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Natural Antioxidants in Avian Nutrition and Reproduction

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  • Vitagene and Health Research Centre
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... Annual world consumption is about 150 eggs per capita, and the EU consumption is on average 217 eggs per capita (Gautron et al. 2022). Egg composition can be manipulated to substantially increase concentrations of omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins E, D and folic acids, selenium, iodine and carotenoids (Surai 2002). Surai (2002) suggested that, by producing antioxidant-enriched eggs, it is possible to improve diets for various categories of consumers, helping to prevent AMD and other diseases. ...
... Egg composition can be manipulated to substantially increase concentrations of omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins E, D and folic acids, selenium, iodine and carotenoids (Surai 2002). Surai (2002) suggested that, by producing antioxidant-enriched eggs, it is possible to improve diets for various categories of consumers, helping to prevent AMD and other diseases. It has been reported that the total xanthophyll content in the yolk in eggs from hens fed yellow or orange maize-based diets or free-range hens may exceed 20 µg/g egg yolk (Ortiz et al. 2021). ...
... Besides carotenoids, vitamin E (tocopherols) is another antioxidant of interest in human health. Reports have shown that vitamin E is relatively easy to transfer from the diet to the egg yolk (Surai 2002). When an egg is enriched with both vitamin E and lutein, lipids within the egg yolk could help antioxidant absorption. ...
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1. This study assessed the addition of dried stinging nettle (SN) leaves at 0%, 2.5% and 5.0% in feed on egg production, egg quality, chemical composition and antioxidant content in eggs from laying hens. 2. Seventy-two Hy-Line Brown laying hens, housed in 36 enriched layer cages, were used in the study from 43 to 47 weeks of age. Feeding dry SN leaves did not affect (p > 0.05) egg production variables. 3. Dietary SN inclusion linearly increased (p < 0.001) carotenoid content more than six-fold, in addition to yellowness and redness of the yolks at the maximum inclusion. Providing eggs from hens fed carotenoid enriched diets, e.g. SN, may be used to increase carotenoids in human diets. ARTICLE HISTORY
... Animals need selenium (Se), a vital antioxidant mineral (Surai, 2002) that has been shown to enhance immunological, antioxidative, and growth performance in broilers (Swain et al., 2000;Wang et al., 2011a;Liao et al., 2012;Skrivan et al., 2012). Glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), a vital component of the antioxidative protection system, is one of the proteins or enzymes that includes selenium (Hoffmann & Berry, 2008;Cai et al., 2012;Lee et al., 2014;Dalia et al., 2018). ...
... Using the amino acid transport mechanism, animals and poultry have evolved naturally to absorb this form from all parts of the gastrointestinal tract. In comparison to inorganic salts, organic Se is more active, less poisonous, and accumulates at higher levels in organs like the liver, brain, and muscles (Kim & Mahan, 2001;Surai, 2002;Payne & Southern, 2005;Tiwary et al., 2006;Zhang et al., 2008;Attia et al., 2010;Mohapatra et al., 2014;Suchy et al., 2014;Hassan et al., 2021). Chickens' consumption of antioxidant vitamins A, C, and E is intimately related to the absorption and transport of Se. ...
... Excessive ROS levels disturb the balance between oxidation and antioxidant defense systems, resulting in lipid peroxidation (Shimizu et al., 2006) and oxidative damage to immune responses (Surai & Fisinin, 2016b), absorption of nutrients (Surai and Fisinin, 2015), and feed conversion efficiency (Belhdj et al., 2015;Vasantha et al., 2016). Therefore, a balance between ROS production and the antioxidant system must be established to maintain immune function, health, and productivity (Surai, 2002). Natural antioxidants including probiotics, vitamins, and trace elements play vital roles in protecting cells from ROS by reducing free radicals and preventing the peroxidation of lipids (Eid et al., 2003;Lin et al., 2006;Eid et al., 2008;Sahin et al., 2009). ...
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The goal of the current study was to determine how selenium-supplemented diets affected the growth performance, carcass traits, and blood biochemistry of Rhode Island Red (RIR) chickens. Organic and inorganic selenium (SE) was fed to the birds at 0.30ppm, whereas the control diet was not supplemented with selenium in either organic or inorganic form. A total of 225 day-old RIR chicks were indiscriminately distributed in three groups according to the experimental diets, in a completely randomized design. Each treatment group was repeated 5 times (replicates), and each replicate had 15 birds. Parameters of growth performance, carcass characteristics, and blood biochemistry were assessed. Birds fed an inorganic selenium-supplemented diet had higher feed intake than those fed an organic selenium-supplemented diet or the control diet, whereas birds fed an organic selenium-supplemented diet had higher body weight gains and better feed conversion ratios. Birds fed organic SE in the diet showed higher breast and thigh weight than those receiving inorganic Se, whereas dressing percentage, drumstick yield, and weights of liver, gizzard, heart, and wing were not significantly different across treatments. The organic Se group showed higher values for total protein and globulin in the blood relative to those fed inorganic Se and the control diet. Similarly, organic Se fed birds showed higher blood Se concentration than the other two groups. However, no significant differences in albumin, glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, and uric acid were observed among the diets. These results lead to the conclusion that organic Se may be utilized in diets to improve the poor performance of RIR chicken. Keywords: Selenium; growth; slaughter characteristics; blood chemistry
... 1. Preglednica 1. Najpogostejši rodovi gliv in toksini, ki kontaminirajo krmo (Dänicke, 2001) Mikotoksine v krmi je v praktičnih razmerah zelo težko odkriti in nadzorovati. Koncentracije mikotoksinov v krmi so običajno dovolj nizke, tako da ne povzročajo kliničnih znakov zastrupitev pri živalih, vseeno pa zmanjšujejo učinkovitost prireje, povečujejo možnost pojava kužnih bolezni (Surai, 2002) in s tem povzročajo veliko gospodarsko in ekonomsko škodo. ...
... Na celični ravni stimulirajo nastajanje prostih radikalov in posledično povzročajo poškodbe na celičnih membranah in DNA. Poleg tega, da toksini inhibitorno vplivajo na sintezo beljakovin v telesu, nekateri znanstveniki trdijo, da je zelo pomemben mehanizem delovanja tudi reakcija lipidne peroksidacije (Surai, 2002), pri kateri se sproščajo prosti radikali in nastajajo toksični produkti npr. malondialdehid (MDA). ...
... Številni avtorji trdijo, da T-2 toksin in DON stimulirata nastanek prostih radikalov in s tem lipidno peroksidacijo (Karppanen in sod., 1989;Rizzo in sod., 1994;Leal in sod., 1999;Vila in sod., 2002), vendar pa si, kot ugotavlja Surai (2002), ugotovitve raziskav mnogokrat nasprotujejo. V raziskavi Hoehler in Marquardt (1996) ugotavljata, da dodatek T-2 toksina v krmo piščancev (v koncentracijah 4 mg/kg in 5 mg/kg), tako kot v naši raziskavi, ni stimuliral lipidne peroksidacije in ni povečal produkcije MDA. ...
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Mikotoksini, sekundarni metaboliti gliv, so strupeni tako za ljudi, kot tudi za živali. Prisotnost fuzarijskih toksinov (T-2 toksina in deoksinivalenola (DON-a)) v krmi, predvsem v višjih koncentracijah, vpliva na zmanjšanje zauživanja krme, posledično pa tudi na prirast živali in zmanjšano težo živali, kar lahko povzroča večje ekonomske izgube. Novejše raziskave so pokazale, da toksini v krmi vplivajo tudi na imunsko odpornost organizma in povzročajo oksidacijski stres oz. povečano lipidno peroksidacijo v organizmu. Namen predstavljenih raziskav je bil ugotoviti vpliv stopnjevane koncentracije T-2 toksina v krmi (od 0,5 do 13,5 mg/kg) in koncentracije 10 mg/kg T-2 toksina in DON-a na proizvodne lastnosti in oksidacijski stres, pri rastočih piščancih, ter ugotoviti potencialni prehranski vpliv mikotoksinskega vezalca in nukleotidov na zmanjšanje negativnih vplivov fuzarijskih toksinov. Rezultati so pokazali, da koncentraciji 10 in 13,5 mg/kg T-2 toksina vplivata na zmanjšanje zauživanja krme in slabše priraste. Deset in 13,5 mg/kg T-2 toksina in 10 mg/kg DON-a v krmi povzroči poškodbe DNA v levkocitih, merjene s kometnim testom. Rezultati dokazujejo, da lahko z dodajanjem mikotoksinskega vezalca v krmo vsaj delno preprečimo absorpcijo mikotoksinov iz črevesja in tako zmanjšamo njihov negativni vpliv na oksidacijski stres (primerjava med skupinama z in brez dodatka s 13,5 mg T-2 toksina/kg krme), medtem ko z dodajanjem nukleotidov lahko vplivamo na mehanizme popravljanja poškodb DNA imunskih celic, ki so jih povzročili fuzarijski toksini.
... Fat-soluble antioxidants can be easily transferred from maternal diets to the yolk and accumulate in embryonic tissues [5,6]. Previous studies have investigated the use of different sources of carotenoids and vitamins in breeder diets as a strategy to reduce peroxidation processes in breeders, eggs, and chicks [7,8]. ...
... During incubation, VE molecules in the yolk accumulate in embryonic tissues, protecting embryos and chicks against ROS during embryonic and post-hatch development. In the first days of life, chicks have difficulty assimilating dietary VE [5]; therefore, VE reserves transferred from the maternal diet become an important source of antioxidant protection for chicks. ...
... This finding indicates that breeder supplementation with TFE and 250 mg/kg VE or more may increase antioxidant reserves in the yolk sac and protect embryos from oxidative processes during embryonic and post-hatch development. VE is crucial during this period, given that newly hatched chicks have difficulty in assimilating dietary VE, depending on the yolk reserves of the vitamin [5]. ...
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The effects of Tagetes erecta flower extract (TFE) and increasing levels of vitamin E (VE) in the diet of Japanese quail breeders on progeny performance and oxidative status were studied. Methods: 480 Japanese quail breeders were distributed in a completely randomized design with five treatments and twelve replications of six females and two males each. A control diet (25 mg/kg VE) and four diets supplemented with TFE (3 g/kg) and VE (25, 100, 175, or 250 mg/kg) were used. Fresh yolk samples and the yolk sac and liver from embryos (11 and 15 days) and chicks (hatch and 3 days) were analysed. Data were subjected to ANOVA, a regression linear model, and contrast tests and the level of significance was set at p < 0.05. Results: TF and VE in the maternal diet improved the amount of alfa-tocopherol and total carotenoid content in the yolk. TFE + VE reduced lipid peroxidation and improved the oxidative status in the fresh yolk, in the embryo and chick yolk, and in the liver. Liver superoxide dismutase activity in hatched chicks increased linearly with the VE level and was not altered by TFE. Maternal diets did not influence progeny performance (1 to 28 days) or the relative expression of superoxide dismutase or glutathione peroxidase genes in the liver of chicks. Conclusions: TFE is an effective antioxidant in fresh eggs and supplementation of 3 g/kg TFE and high levels of VE in quail breeders improves the oxidative status of embryos and newly hatched chicks.
... For example, females generally have a stronger immune response than males in both human and murine models, including higher circulating levels of immunoglobulin types M, G, and A (Markle & Fish, 2014;Oertelt-Prigione, 2012;Zuk & McKean, 1996). However, females also allocate resources to egg development and/or gestation (Surai, 2002;Weiss et al., 2011), and immune system dysregulation can occur during this period (Luppi, 2003). Moreover, females of oviparous species must deal with a strong allocation trade-off between the use of available antioxidants and minerals for self-maintenance or egg formation (Surai, 2002;Weiss et al., 2011). ...
... However, females also allocate resources to egg development and/or gestation (Surai, 2002;Weiss et al., 2011), and immune system dysregulation can occur during this period (Luppi, 2003). Moreover, females of oviparous species must deal with a strong allocation trade-off between the use of available antioxidants and minerals for self-maintenance or egg formation (Surai, 2002;Weiss et al., 2011). ...
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Female and male hosts may maximise their fitness by evolving different strategies to compensate for the costs of parasite infections. The resulting sexual dimorphism might be apparent in differential relationships between parasite load and body condition, potentially reflecting differences in energy allocation to anti‐parasitic defences. For example, male lacertids with high body condition may produce many offspring while being intensely parasitised. In contrast, female lacertids may show a different outcome of the trade‐offs between body condition and immunity, aiming to better protect themselves from the harm of parasites. We predicted that females would have fewer parasites than males and a lower body condition across parasitaemia levels because they would invest resources in parasite defence to mitigate the costs of infection. In contrast, the male strategy to maximise access to females would imply some level of parasite tolerance and, thus, higher parasitaemia. We analysed the relationship between the body condition of lizards and the parasitemias of Karyolysus and Schellackia, two genera of blood parasites with different phylogenetic origins, in 565 females and 899 males belonging to 10 species of the Lacertidae (Squamata). These lizards were sampled over a period of 12 years across 34 sampling sites in southwestern Europe. The results concerning the Karyolysus infections were consistent with the predictions, with males having similar body condition across parasitaemia levels even though they had higher infection intensities than females. On the other hand, females with higher levels of Karyolysus parasitaemia had lower body condition. This is consistent with the prediction that different life strategies of male and female lacertids can explain the infection patterns of Karyolysus. In contrast, the parasitaemia of Schellackia was consistently low in both male and female hosts, with no significant effect on the body condition of lizards. This suggests that lizards of both sexes maintain this parasite below a pathogenic threshold.
... The yolk color index in laying hens is primarily influenced by the carotenoid pigments in the diet. Carotenoids are known to enhance the antioxidant properties of the egg yolk, which may protect the developing embryo from oxidative damage during incubation (Surai, 2002). This protection can translate to higher eggs hatchability rates. ...
... Rosa et al. (2012) found that the supplementation of BB diets with canthaxanthin improved the hatchability and fertility rate, and reduced embryo mortality. On the other hand, TM such as Zn and Cu play a critical role in carotenoid absorption and metabolism (Surai, 2002). Opalinski et al. (2012) also documented a significant effect of TM source on yolk color index. ...
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Comparative efficacy of hydroxychloride (HC) and organic (OR) sources of Zn, Cu and Mn on performance of broiler breeders (BB) between 42 and 63 weeks of age (WOA) was investigated. A total of 408 ♀ Ross 708 and 48 ♂ Yield Plus cockerels were placed in pens (17 ♀ and 2 ♂) housed in 2 rooms (12 pens/room) and allocated to one of 2 diets in a completely randomized block design (n=12). The diets had similar nutrient specifications but differed in Zn, Cu, and Mn sources: 1) HO, a blend of 80% HC and 20% OR sources, and 2) OR, 100% OR sources. Birds were fed and managed according to breeder guidelines. The egg count was recorded daily and categorized as normal or abnormal. Egg yolk color, albumen height, Haugh unit, eggshell thickness, and eggshell breaking strength were assessed every 4 wk. Individual hen body weight (BW) was recorded at 5-wk intervals to determine BW uniformity. At 52 and 63 WOA, the eggs and excreta samples were collected. At the end of the trial, 4 hens per pen were bled for plasma concentration of trace minerals and organs (liver, gizzard, spleen, kidney, and thymus) weight. There were no interactions between source and age on any parameters (P > 0.05). There were no main effects of source on egg production, eggshell quality, BW, and organs weight (P > 0.05). Hens fed HO diets had darker yolk compared to those fed OR diets (P = 0.014). The concentration of Zn in the eggs of OR BB was higher (P = 0.022) than for HO birds. However, there were no dietary effects on the concentration of trace minerals in the egg, plasma, and excreta (P > 0.05). The results indicated that a mixture of HC and O as sources for Zn, Cu, and Mn was as effective as OR sources in supporting egg production, egg quality, and trace mineral utilization in broiler breeders.
... They do this by acting as electron donors, quenching the reactive nature of the radicals, and neutralising them. Most antioxidants present in an organism belong to this category and in response to increases in ROS, organisms can upregulate endogenous production of these antioxidants and stored dietary antioxidants can be mobilised (Surai 2002). ...
Thesis
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Oxidative stress has long been associated with life history traits such as pace of life, longevity and ageing, to reproduction, fecundity and survival. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are highly reactive molecules, the majority of which are created as a natural by-product of aerobic respiration. ROS can serve as biologically functional molecules, for example in cell signalling. Owing to their highly reactive nature, however, if their production exceeds an organisms ability to quench and regulate them they may cause damage to macromolecules such as DNA, proteins, and lipids. Traditional models of oxidative stress predict higher levels of production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), with increased levels of metabolic output. The ideas envisioned in these models often involve trade-offs occurring in the form of increased oxidative damage due to heightened energy requirements, ideas under increasing scrutiny. Presented in this thesis are four studies using free-living birds, great tits (Parus major) and blue tits (Cyanistes caeruleus) overwintering and breeding in a nest box colony. The studies have aimed to investigate this relationship between overall energy use and the buildup of damage created by the production of ROS. Utilising naturally occurring differences in the metabolic outputs of these animals, i.e., sampling while at rest during the night and during daytime activity, markers of oxidative status were measured: in plasma (oxidative damage: d-ROM’s, non-enzymatic antioxidant capacity: OXY, circulating antioxidant: Uric acid) and in erythrocytes (antioxidant enzymes: SOD,CAT, and GPx, and the antioxidant thiol glutathione in its reduced and oxidised forms: GSH and GSSG).
... Increased activity of plasma AST and ALT is an indicative of organ damage, specifically liver. These serum enzymes usually are indicators of oxidative damage to the liver tissues as elaborated earlier for birds (Che et al., 2010;Surai, 2002). The enzyme activity of AST is considered nonspecific but sensitive indicator of liver disease (Jaensch et al., 2000). ...
Article
Various approaches for the induction of moulting have been explained in the literature review, however, there is a dire need to explore other effective methods that can be more efficient in terms of production performance. The current study was conducted to evaluate the role of zinc-induced moulting on certain body performance attributes, serum biochemical profile and serum hormonal profile of White Leghorn layers towards the end of their first production cycle (spent layers). Commercial White Leghorn birds (n=24) of 67-weeks of age were procured from local market and were induced to moult with zinc oxide (3 g/kg diet) for three consecutive weeks. The spent layers were grouped as non-moulted group (NML) and moulted group (ML) after zinc-induced moulting. The result on overall body performance attributes indicated that the body weight and weight of organs significantly (P≤0.05) decreased in ML group birds as compared to the birds of NML group except for kidneys. The cholesterol, HDL, LDL and triglycerides were lower (P≤0.05) in birds of ML group as compared to birds of NML. On the contrary, serum circulating levels of ALT and AST were statistically higher (P≤0.05) in birds of ML group as compared to their counterpart NML group. A significant increase (P≤0.05) was noticed in serum T4 and cortisol concentrations for birds of ML group as compared to those of NML group, whereas T3 level was found decreased (P≤0.05) in birds of ML group. The results of present study indicated that usage of dietary supplementation of ZnO (3g/kg), for the purpose of moulting, exhibits promising effects on body performance attributes and serum biomarkers. Different dietary concentrations of ZnO may be evaluated in future to minimize stress and further enhance the performance of spent layers. Keywords: Cortisol, Moulting, Spent layers, Zinc-oxide
... Regarding the effect of GLY on mRNA in birds, previous studies have shown that exposure to triazine herbicides causes oxidative stress, alters antioxidant systems [98,99] and leads to DNA damage [100][101][102]. After 62 days of exposure to low amounts of RoundUp ® , AMPA (aminomethylphosphonic acid--a primary metabolite of GLY), methylchlorophenoxypropionic acid, acetochlor and 2,4-dichlorophenol, there was an upregulation in the expression of the C1 inhibitor precursor, a crucial negative regulator of the complement system, in European flounders (Platichthys flesus) [103]. ...
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Simple Summary: It has been established that exposure to trace amounts of the herbicide glyphosate, even in low quantities, may have serious negative consequences for the health of poultry. The purpose of this study was to examine changes in growth and in the expression of key genes in the cecum of broiler chickens after adding glyphosate (a herbicide), antibiotics and an anticoccidial (a drug used to prevent and control infections of intracellular parasites called coccidia) into their food. At 7, 14, and 40 control days of raising, samples were taken. The results showed that at the age of 7 days, there was a stimulating effect on the expression of the TLR2 gene following exposure to glyphosate, either alone or in combination with antibiotics or an anticoccidial drug. Glyphosate increased the expression of genes IGF1, IGF2, and MSTN associated with broiler performance by 3.7-foldat the age of 7 days and, conversely, decreased the expression of the same ones at later ages (14 and 40 days). Our findings suggest that, in agricultural practice, it is necessary to observe a number of measures to minimize the use of glyphosate and similar compounds that exceed the recommended levels. Abstract: Studies have shown the presence of residual amounts of the herbicide glyphosate in poultry feed, which leads to its bioaccumulation in the body. Recently, it has been established that exposure to low levels of glyphosate over a long period may have serious negative effects on poultry health. Moreover, combined exposure to several toxicants can potentially lead to additive and/or synergistic effects. The purpose of this study was to analyze changes in meat productivity and the expression dynamics of key genes (IGF1, IGF2, MYOG, MYOZ2, SLC2A1, SLC2A2, MSTN, MUC2, OCLN, CLDN1, TLR2, TLR4, CAT, SOD1, PRDX6, and HMOX1) in the cecum of broilers as affected by glyphosate, antibiotics and a coccidiostat (anticoccidial drug). Day-old Ross 308 broiler chickens (n = 260) were divided into four groups, including a control group (CONT) fed the basic diet (BD), and three experimental groups: GLY (BD + glyphosate), GLY+ANT (BD + glyphosate and antibiotics enrofloxacin and colistin methanesulfonate), and GLY+CS (BD + glyphosate and the coccidiostat ammonium maduramycin). Samples were collected at control 7, 14, and 40 days of rearing, 50 mg each from three birds from each group. The mean body weight in each group was determined after the individual weighing of the entire flock. At 7 days of age, an upregulating effect on the expression of the immune-related TLR2 gene was detected in Groups GLY+ANT and GLY+CS compared to Group CONT (p = 0.044 and p = 0.042, respectively) and Group GLY (p = 0.049 and p = 0.044, respectively). At 40 days of age, this gene expression, conversely, decreased in Groups GLY+ANT and GLY+CS compared to Group CONT (p = 0.041 and p = 0.038, respectively). Glyphosate (Group GLY) upregulated the mRNA level of genes associated with productivity (IGF1, IGF2, and MSTN) at 7 days of age by 3.7 times (p = 0.041, p = 0.036 and p = 0.039, respectively) and, conversely, decreased it at a later age (14 and 40 days) compared to Group CONT (p = 0.024, p = 0.049 and p = 0.047, respectively, at 14 days, and p = 0.037 and p = 0.036 and p = 0.035, respectively, at 40 days of age). Thus, we identified detrimental changes in the expression of key broiler genes as influenced by glyphosate, as well as its combinations with antibiotics and a coccidiostat, which may have negative consequences for the poultry industry. Keywords: glyphosate; antibiotic; coccidiostat; gene expression; cecum; broilers; body weight
... The sperm membrane in avians is a complex and sensitive lipid biomembrane structure that contains high levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), a highly sensitive to the freeze-thaw process and the deleterious effects of lipid peroxidation in cryopreservation (Long, 2006). A major cause of increased membrane permeability, decreased fluidity, and, more generally, changes in the plasma membrane composition (Surai, 2002;Blesbois, 2011). ...
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This study was conducted to evaluate manila duck’s (Cairina moschata) frozen semen quality after cryopreservation in lactated ringer's egg yolk-astaxanthin (LREY-A) with 5 different concentrations of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). Methodology: Semen was collected from 3 manila ducks (Cairina moschata) using the cloaca massage technique twice a week. Fresh semen was evaluated macro and microscopically then polled and divided into 5 tubes of treatments. Each tube was diluted in DMSO4, DMSO6, DMSO8, DMSO10, and DMSO12. The semen of each treatment was loaded into a 0.25 mL straw and equilibrated at 5 °C for 2 h. Freeze above nitrogen vapor and stored a container of liquid nitrogen at -196 °C, then semen thawed in a water bath at 37 °C for 30 sec. Data were analyzed using One-Way ANOVA Analysis. Results of this showed that post-equilibration sperm motility and sperm viability have differed significantly (P<0.05) for each treatment, with the highest % sperm motility DMSO8 and DMSO6, this is also shown in post-thawing sperm motility and viability which have differed significantly (P<0.05) and the highest % sperm viability were DMSO8 and DMSO6. In conclusion, Frozen semen extender formulation of DMSO8 and DMSO6 which are used in manila duck semen cryopreservation was the best to other treatments to maintain % sperm motility and % sperm viability in post-equilibration and post-thawing. The highest sperm motility recovery rate was in DMSO8. The lowest sperm live and dead abnormality was in DMSO8. It is concluded that the combination of DMSO8 was the best in maintaining the quality of manila duck frozen semen.
... They are chemical compounds that can delay the starting point or slow the rate of lipid oxidation reaction in different biological systems [3]. According to Surai et al., these chemicals stop other molecules from oxidizing and damaging cells [4]. Free radicals (atoms, molecules, and other substances with one or more unpaired electrons) are known to be produced during oxidation reactions [5]. ...
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Fruit waste poses a significant global challenge, with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) reporting that about 1.3 billion tons of food is wasted annually, contributing to environmental and economic challenges. The major fruit-producing countries (United States, China, India, and Brazil) are responsible for a large portion of this waste. Fruit waste contains different bioactive compounds like polyphenols, flavonoids, vitamins, and carotenoids, which are, in large part, underutilized regardless of their antioxidant properties. These compounds can play an important function in poultry nutrition, offering natural alternatives to synthetic antioxidants. Reintegrating fruit waste into poultry diets might have potent benefits on the nutritional quality and shelf life of eggs. Some studies reported that bioactive compounds from fruit waste improve the oxidative stability of eggs and the nutritional content, potentially extending shelf life during storage. Additionally, antioxidant compounds from fruit waste have been shown to improve yolk coloration and some egg quality parameters while reducing reactive oxygen species, which cause lipid oxidation. Their inclusion in poultry diets can lower feed costs, promote animal welfare, and reduce the environmental impact of fruit waste. This review highlights some key fruit wastes, such as citrus, apple, grape, rosehip, sea buckthorn, and banana, among others, which are natural reservoirs of bioactive compounds beneficial for poultry nutrition. This strategy aligns with FAO sustainability goals, addressing both food waste and animal nutrition challenges. Future studies should focus on optimizing the inclusion rates of these natural antioxidants in poultry diets to maximize their benefits.
... because the stress effect of the viral infection we noted there is lowering in antioxidant enzymes parameters (Surai, 2016). The affected cells can produce excess of oxidative factors as a result of being destroyed by the virus (Surai, 2002). Note: ...
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The aim of the current study was to identify the physiological effect of Newcastle disease in infected bird comparing with healthy bird .in these experiment 60 bird were divided into two groups each group was two replicates .The group of control T (healthy bird) the group T1 (infected bird ).The blood sample was collected in the end of the experiment the measure of hemoglobin (Hb) ,Total leukocyte cell count (TLC) , Total erythrocyte count (TEC), Differentiation white blood cell, Total protein, Globulin ,and antioxidant enzymes Glutathione peroxidase (GSH-XP), Catalase (CAT) ,Superoxide dismutase (SOD), Malondialdehyde (MDA). and we were measured the production parameters like a verge of weight, a verge of feed consumption rate and the rate of food conversion efficiency. The results show that significant p≤0.05 affected of the healthy bird compared with infected bird in most of the measure .This confirms that infected with Newcastle disease effect on the physiology of blood and antioxidant so his loss occurs in production of chickens that did not die in the field and this lead to major economic loss .
... High calcium, phosphorus, and vitamin D levels are critical for skeletal development (Gupta et al. 2018). For reproductive health, Vitamins E and A, along with minerals like selenium, influence reproductive performance and offspring viability (Surai 2002), while for immune function, Vitamins C and E, as well as trace minerals like zinc, support immune responses and disease resistance (Combs 2012). While for metabolic efficiency, B vitamins are essential for energy metabolism and nutrient utilization (Baker 2009). ...
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Akintunde AO, Ndubuisi-Ogbonna LC, Oyekale OO, Shobo BA, Animashaun RO, Adewumi AG. 2024. Nutritional evaluation of aqueous extracts of Parquetina nigrescens leaves for physiological manipulations of livestock feed. Asian J Agric 8: 95-103. Plant extracts increase good bacteria's growth while reducing harmful bacteria's activity in the gastrointestinal tract. The Aqueous Extract of Parquetina nigrescens (Wennberg) Bullock Leaves (AEPNL) was evaluated for nutritional and phytochemical compositions. Therefore, 50 g of the leaves was blended with 1,000 mL of water and filtered. The filtrate was then analyzed for its nutritional contents. The results revealed that AEPNL contained crude protein (24.60%), crude fiber (5.60%), crude ash (3.60%), carbohydrate (62.30%), and crude fat (2.60%). AEPNL contained appreciable amounts of essential and non-essential amino acids. AEPNL contained minerals: Calcium (23.90 mg/100g), iron (3.60 mg/100g), magnesium (4.05 mg/100g), phosphorus (6.88 mg/100g), potassium (23.21 mg/100g), chlorine (0.33 mg/100g), manganese (1.46 mg/100g), sodium (0.36 mg/100g), aluminum (4.34 mg/100g), silicon (29.70 mg/100g) and titanium (2.17 mg/100g) and vitamins: A (2.30 mg/100/g) B1 (275.20 mg/100g), B2 (855.30 mg/100g), B3 (328.20 mg/100g), C (16.20 mg/100g) and E (0.012 mg/100g). Phytochemical evaluation showed high amounts of alkaloids (8.20 mg/100g), low amounts of flavonoids, glycosides, steroids, phenols, terpenoids and anthraquinones (2.20 mg/100g, 0.06 mg/100g, 0.20 mg/100g, 0.86 mg/100g, 0.52 mg/100g and 1.55 mg/100g respectively) and moderate amounts of saponin and tannin (5.20 mg/100g and 6.30 mg/100g respectively). It can be concluded that AEPNL is of high nutritional quality with the resultant phytochemicals that could ser ve as supplements with huge potential in the manipulations of physiological activities of poultry and livestock species.
... In fact, Se yeast is an effective in vitro and in vivo antioxidant (Vinson et al., 1998). Thus, the use of sodium selenite in animal diets has recently been questioned (Pehrson, 1993;Mahan, 1999;Surai, 2002Surai, , 2006. Indeed, recent discoveries related to pro-oxidant properties of selenite and its interference with other dietary compounds like ascorbic acid put pressure on feed manufactures to find new, P.F. ...
... For example, genes associated with melanocortin pathways, which regulate melanistic coloration, affect female sexual receptivity, aggressiveness, stress response, as well as the regulation of metabolic rate and body temperature (see Ducrest et al., 2008 for a review). Genes associated with carotenoid and pterin pigmentation have also been suggested to be involved in metabolic processes (Johnson & Hill, 2013;Longo, 2009;Powers & Hill, 2021), locomotor ability (Jiang et al., 2020) and reproduction (Surai, 2002). In environments where these genes reduce fitness through their pleiotropic effects on these traits (e.g., metabolic rate, reproduction, aggression) they have the potential to constrain positive selection on coloration and thus contribute significantly to patterns of color variation across the landscape (Ducrest et al., 2008). ...
Article
Common wall lizards ( Podarcis muralis ) in Italy show a striking variation in body coloration across the landscape, with highly exaggerated black and green colors in hot and dry climates and brown and white colors in cool and wet climates. Males are more intensely colored than females, and previous work has suggested that the maintenance of variation in coloration across the landscape reflects climatic effects on the strength of male–male competition, and through this sexual selection. However climatic effects on the intensity of male–male competition would need to be exceptionally strong to fully explain the geographic patterns of color variation. Thus, additional processes may contribute to the maintenance of color variation. Here we test the hypothesis that selection for green and black ornamentation in the context of male–male competition is opposed by selection against ornamentation because the genes involved in the regulation of coloration have pleiotropic effects on thermal physiology, such that ornamentation is selected against in cool climates. Field observations revealed no association between body coloration and microhabitat use or field active body temperatures. Consistent with these field data, lizards at the extreme ends of the phenotypic distribution for body coloration did not show any differences in critical minimum temperature, preferred body temperature, temperature‐dependent metabolic rate, or evaporative water loss when tested in the laboratory. Combined, these results provide no evidence that genes that underlie sexual ornamentation are selected against in cool climate because of pleiotropic effects on thermal biology.
... Specifically, carotenoid pigments have received much attention, since they contribute to offspring growth and development (e.g., in birds, the allocation of carotenoids to the egg yolk protects the embryo against oxidative damage during somatic development ;Surai 2002;Tyndale et al. 2008). Additionally, they play a role in promoting the transcription of antioxidant enzymes and metal-binding (reviewed in Pérez-Rodríguez et al. 2009) and have immune-stimulatory properties like the regulation of thymocyte activation (Garbe et al. 1992), the expression of immune related genes ) and the regulation of proteins involved in cellto-cell communication . ...
Thesis
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Parents invest in their progeny to increase offspring survival, ultimately maximizing their own fitness. However, this investment is limited and this leads to the emergence of evolutionary conflicts of interest (i.e., sexual, parent-offspring and sibling conflict), as the different family members may disagree on how resources are distributed. Historically, theoretical models assumed that parental care strategies are fixed and that they can only change over evolutionary timescales. Yet more recent models rather specified rules for responding to the behaviour of partners and offspring in behavioural timescales. These models assume that individuals may negotiate until reaching a settlement, which implies that their fitness-related decisions are flexible and can be modulated according to the information on offer. The acquisition of information then again requires communication, which could be facilitated through informative signals that can be either static (e.g., plumage colouration) or plastic (e.g., offspring begging behaviour). However, we currently know too little about how flexible parental response rules are and to what extent individual responses and the flexibility in behavioural strategies are affected by signaling traits, in a context with multiple senders and receivers – the family. The main objective of this thesis was therefore to study (a) flexibility in care strategies and how this relates to resource allocation trade-offs and the environmental context, and (b) how optimal care strategies are modulated by signals as expressed by the family. Using blue tits (Cyanistes caeruleus) as a model system, we tested the hypothesis that signals expressed by family members facilitate flexible response rules (“negotiation”) over parental care in different contexts (e.g., physical or social environment). First, I investigated how the trade-off between current reproduction and self-maintenance is modulated by the availability of a key resource, lutein, during egg laying. Here I found that enhanced lutein availability increased female egg laying capacity, but at the cost a thinner egg shell. Possibly because the supplementation of this carotenoid pigment interfered with the calcium acquisition and deposition. Then, I investigated whether blue tit parents adjust their feeding strategies to the expression of an offspring signalling trait, and how changes in parental strategies depend on the quality of the environment (i.e., the manipulation of carotenoid availability; or family size). Parents should invest equally in all their offspring under good conditions (i.e., enhanced female intrinsic capacity, or once the initial brood size is reduced), when their rearing capacity allow them to raise all the brood. In contrast, they should shift their investment towards the offspring with the highest probability of survival when parental capacities are too limited (i.e., when the initial brood size is enlarged). Such parental favouritism could be facilitated through the expression of condition-dependent signalling traits that may inform parents about offspring quality (i.e., ultraviolet (UV)/yellow breast feathers of blue tit nestlings). Offspring UV colouration mediated intra-family interactions, and this effect depended on the quality of the prenatal environment and the brood demand. Fathers favoured UV-blocked nestlings when their female partner was lutein-supplemented during egg laying, and hence possibly in a better condition. Parents preferentially fed offspring signalling lower quality (UV-blocked) when their rearing capacities were sufficient to raise all nestlings reduced broods. Then, I investigated the function of the same colouration in blue tit adults. Parental feedings increased in nests in which the UV reflectance was experimentally reduced in one of the parents. This increase was due to the fact that partners of UV-blocked adults enhanced the number of feedings, presumably to compensate the lower-quality appearance of their mates. UV-blocked adults did not change their own rate of nestling provisioning. However, offspring did not respond to the parental manipulated signal, which contradicted my hypothesis that parental signals would simultaneously matter for multiple intra-family contexts. Ultimately, if parental feeding decisions are guided by the expression of signals, the offspring plumage colouration could be a condition-dependent trait that allows parents to distinguish their offspring quality. Here, I found that the total reflectance of yellow breast feathers could act as an honest signal during intra-family interactions, since it varied with body mass within broods. Interestingly, this colour parameter, and the reflectance in the UV region reflected brood quality (e.g., rearing capacity, genetic or environmental effects). The function of this pattern is as yet unclear. These results reveal a significant flexibility in behavioural strategies within the context of parental care. Family signals would facilitate flexible behavioural responses, which are dependent on the context. All family members responded (although to a different extent) to the experimental manipulation of different environmental factors or signalling traits that determine the information provided in the family environment. Yet signalling may facilitate the flexibility and hence diversity of fitness-related decisions taken by the different family members, which may allow them to reach a settlement that optimises trade-offs along a negotiation continuum.
... Vitamins have been formerly associated with impeding the propagation of peroxyl radicals and terminating the lipid peroxidation chain. Moreover, VE is valued due to regenerative ability when supplemented in combination with Se (Surai, 2002). The excellent potential of hens to transform dietary VE, a lipophilic antioxidant, into good fatty acids in eggs can placate daily human consumption (Buckiuniene et al., 2018). ...
Article
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Egg preference as a source of protein also provides beneficial fatty acids, vital for human consumption. However, rich in lipid products are prone to oxidative damage. The study aims to determine the effect of supplementing biogenic selenium (Se) from Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, ADS18 (ADS18) in laying hens’ diet on yolk lipid oxidation status (MDA), beta-carotene (β-carotene) content, cholesterol, fatty acids, Se, and vitamin E (VE) level. A total of one hundred and twenty (120) laying hens of Lohmann Brown strains aged 50 weeks, weighing 1500 to 2000 g were reared individually in A-shape two-tier stainless-steel cages sized 30 cm x 50 cm x 40 cm (width, depth height). The hens were randomly allotted into four treatments with six replications in a complete randomised design for the period of 12 weeks. The basal diet contains 100 mg/kg VE. Treatment diets consist of basal diet as control, SS containing 0.3 mg/kg sodium selenite, Se-yeast containing 0.3 mg/kg selenised yeast, and VADS18 containing 0.3 mg/kg of ADS18. Forty-eight eggs were collected and freeze-dried biweekly for analysis. The results of the present study showed that hens supplemented ADS18 had significantly (P < 0.05) lower MDA and cholesterol levels while their egg yolks had higher levels of Se and mono-unsaturated fatty acids (MUFA). The control group had significantly (P < 0.05) higher saturated fatty acid (SFA) contents than the VE and dietary Se-supplemented groups, while the ADS18 group had the lowest SFA contents. Conversely, in comparison to the inorganic and control groups, the VE content of the egg yolk was significantly (P < 0.05) higher in organic Se-supplemented (Se-yeast and VADS18) groups. Hens with SS supplementation had significantly (P < 0.05) higher egg yolk β-carotene content. When compared to other treatment groups, the control group had higher (P < 0.05) polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) content. The ADS18 is therefore deemed comparable to other Se sources. To prevent Se toxicity, however, a better understanding of the levels of ADS18 incorporation in poultry diets is required.
... Overall, this would indicate effects in different directions on the allocation patterns of tocopherol and retinol in partridge eggs exposed to triazole fungicides. While tocopherol acts as an antioxidant to protect unsaturated lipids from oxidative degradation, retinol support growth, since it is required for the differentiation and maintenance of epithelial tissue (Blount, 2004;Surai, 2003). Therefore, both the lack and the excess of these vitamins during embryonic development could result in congenital malformations and neuropathies (Burgos et al., 2006). ...
... Therefore, it was thought to be due to the use of the separation technique as a method. Free-range chicken eggs contain 55-113 µg g -1 without adding vitamin E to their feed, free-range pheasant eggs contain 49-86 µg g -1 , and free-range goose egg yolks contain vitamin E at the level of 23-32 µg g -1 (Surai et al., 1998;Surai, 2002). Therefore, it was seen that there was a very close similarity between the Vitamin E content of free goose eggs reported in the literature and in this study (25-38 µg g -1 ). ...
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In this investigation, egg yolk and egg white water and fat-soluble antioxidant concentrations of geese eggs were determined during a production season according to months and weeks. Breeders consumed 100 g commercial layer feed per day during a production season. The farm was located at a semi-open prison of the Ministry of Justice in Van city. Fat-soluble (vitamin A, E, total and individual carotene) of egg yolk and water-soluble (ascorbic acid and GSH) antioxidants of egg white of geese were measured in February, March, April and May per week gazed in pasture conditions. Roche Yolk Color Fun (RYCF) values and Minolta (L* brightness, a* redness, and b* yellowness) values varied according to months and statistically significant differences were observed (p <0.05). RYCF, a * redness, and b *yellowness values were the lowest in February and L* brightness values were the highest in February (p <0.001). According to months (February-May), the egg yolk concentration of vitamin A (retinol) were 3.05±0.11, 1.84±0.10, 1.93±0.09, 2.84±0.19 µg g-1, total vitamin E were 26.87±1.80, 25.07±1.64, 38.16±1.71, 34.30±1.89 µg g-1, and total carotene were 15.49±1.44, 19.50±1.79, 42.39±1.99, 44.30±2.03 µg g-1 (p <0.05), respectively. In this study, lutein, cis-lutein, zeaxanthin, apoester, canthaxanthin, and beta-carotene were identified as individual carotene in goose egg yolks. Glutathione (GSH) and Vitamin C or ascorbic acid (AA) were detected in geese eggs white in the last two weeks of February and four weeks of March, April, and May. The results were recorded as: 0.91±0.14, 1.83±0.19, 2.69±0.15, 1.97±0.09 µg g-1 for AA and 7.71±1.86, 33.22±2.14, 45.37±2.41, 38.75±1.50 µg g-1 for GSH respectively. Both water-soluble GSH and AA data were significantly lower in February and were significantly higher in April (p <0.05) compared to other months.
... Oxidative stress has been implicated in neurologic degenerative disorders [41]. So exploration of natural elements which have biological activity become one of the researcher targets because synthetic compounds which have biological activities such as synthetic antioxidant compounds are carcinogenic [42]. ...
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This work aims to evaluate the anxiolytic-like effects of Phragmanthera capitata in a model of chronic immobilization stress in mice. Groups of mice were treated in ten consecutive days as follows: a normal control group (NaCl 0.9% per os), a negative control group (chronic immobilization stress + NaCl 0.9% per os), three test groups that were submitted to chronic immobilization stress (CIS) and received three doses of the plant (25, 125, and 250 mg/kg, p.o), and a positive control group (chronic immobilization stress + diazepam 2 mg/kg, i.p). Open field and dark/light tests were used for the evaluation of anxiolytic effects. Antioxidant activities and the involvement of gabaergic neurotransmission were determined by measuring the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), reduced glutathione (GSH), catalase (CAT), gamma amino butyric acid (GABA), and GABA-transaminase (GABA-T) in the brain. Our results show that the highest dose of Phragmanthera capitata induced a significant increase (p < 0.001) of time spent in the centre, number of crossing and number of grooming in the open field test and a significant increase (p < 0.001) of time spent in the light compartment and the latency of the first escape in the light compartment of the dak/light test. The level of MDA and the activity of GABA-T were significantly decreased by the Phragmanthera capitata while reduced GSH, CAT and GABA, levels were increased. These results suggest that Phragmanthera capitata possesses anxiolytic-like effects that may be supported by its antioxidant activities and or the GABA neurotransmission.
... This level is close to that reported by Słowińska et al. (2017), who studied semen of wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) and reported that of 137 proteins observed, only 2% had antioxidant function. Antioxidant activity in the testes is fundamentally important because these enzymes protect against oxidative factors, ensuring high fertility (Surai, 2002). ...
Article
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This report examines the effects of calcium anacardate (CA) on the morphology, histology, and proteomics of the testes and epididymal ducts of breeding quail. To that end, 22 140-day-old males were grouped in four treatments, each with different concentrations of CA: 0% (control), 0.25%, 0.50%, and 0.75%. The testicles of the animals were weighed and measured, and proteins from the testicles were separated by 1D SDS-PAGE and analyzed via mass spectrometry. Overall, 35 bands were identified in the testicular tissue gels of European quail. Of these, 13 were significantly different, with treatment 0.75% CA being different from the control in all bands. Significant differences among the mean heights of the seminiferous epithelium and diameters of the epididymal duct were observed. In the control group, the average height of the seminiferous epithelium was 71.2 µm, and in 0.75% CA, it was 45.6 µm. Supplementing feed with CA altered the expression of specific proteins, such as superoxide dismutase and heat shock proteins, of the seminal plasma of quail, in addition to facilitating histological alterations regarding the height of the seminiferous epithelium and the diameter of the epididymal duct, improving the reproductive parameters. Keywords: Coturnix coturnix ; oxidative stress; poultry; reproduction
... Heat stress result from high environmental temperature and humidity hindering thermoregulation and adversely affecting immunity, productivity and fertility. Heat stress lead to increase production of free radicals in the body resulting in oxidative stress [3].Oxidative damage results in decrease reproductive and productive performance. Adverse effect of heat stress on immune system has earlier been reported by [4]. ...
... Los carotenoides son también compuestos lipofílicos con propiedades antioxidantes, aunque estas últimas han sido algo sobredimensionadas durante algún tiempo en el campo de la ecología evolutiva (Costantini y Møller, 2008;Pérez-Rodríguez, 2009). Su contribución al estado oxidativo en el organismo adulto parece ser limitada, al menos en aves (Costantini y Møller, 2008;Simons et al., 2012), aunque su papel podría ser mucho más relevante en determinados procesos fisiológicos, como los vinculados a la reproducción (Surai, 2002). Aparte de estos dos compuestos lipofílicos, existen otros de naturaleza hidrofílica y también de origen dietético, como los polifenoles, cuya relevancia desde un punto de vista ecofisiológico ha sido poco estudiada, aunque podrían tener un papel importante, sobre todo en taxones frugívoros (p. ...
Article
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El estrés oxidativo es un fenómeno complejo que ha sido el foco de intensa investigación desde diferentes campos del conocimiento. Desde hace más de veinte años ha atraído también la atención de los ecólogos del comportamiento. En este artículo pretendemos describir (1) los métodos más simples y útiles para su medición, (2) los procedimientos más viables para su manipulación y (3) las preguntas más interesantes que pueden ser respondidas mediante la aplicación de las aproximaciones que describimos. Con este texto, pretendemos animar al desarrollo de éste campo entre los estudiosos del comportamiento, sirviendo de instrumento y estímulo para futuras líneas de trabajo.
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This investigation in the hatchery operated by Al-Anwar Poultry Group in Babylon governorate utilized 750 fertilized eggs from January 15 to February 6, 2019. The eggs were partitioned into 5 groups, as follows: T1, serving as a negative control treatment without injection, and T2, serving as a positive control therapy injected with distilled water. Each group included 150 fertilized eggs. Treatments T5, T4, and T3 involved administering a nutritional solution comprising Nano-selenium coupled with vitamin E at dosages of 15-30-45 ppm, respectively, via injection. Subsequently, the chicks were isolated from the injected egg treatments, and each treatment was further divided into three repetitions. The chicks were then cultivated experimentally for 48 hours without any food and were just provided with water. The subsequent outcomes were achieved: Treatment T3 showed a statistically significant difference (P ≤0.01) in the relative hatchability percentage. The treatment T2 (P ≤0.01) markedly outperformed the other treatments in terms of embryonic mortality percentage. There was also a significant excelled(P ≤0.05) for the treatment T1 in the concentration of blood cholesterol and during times 0-12-24-48 hours after hatching, a significant excelled (P ≤0.05) for the treatments T2, T1 in the concentration of triglycerides during the times 0-48 hours after hatching, and the treatment T2 excelled during the times 12-24 hours, a significant excelled (P ≤0.05) for the treatment T2 in the concentration of glucose Blood when hatching, and T3 and T1 treatments excelled12 hours, Treatment T2 at time 24 hours, and highly significant (P ≤0.01) for T2 and T1 at 48 hours after hatching, significant difference (P ≤0.05) for T5 in the concentration of GpX, was significant. Treatment T1 surpassed the established concentration of Malonaldehyde within the first 48 hours after hatching.
Chapter
There has been considerable work to test the role of organismal oxidative stress as a mediator of reproductive trade-offs. Intense research focussed on whether parental effort in offspring rearing results in oxidative stress. Many other studies carried out comparisons between non-reproducing and reproducing individuals in a narrow range of taxa. By contrast, we have a very limited number of studies that tested whether pre-breeding oxidative stress constraints reproductive decisions and quality of parental care (and reproductive success as a consequence). In this chapter, I have examined how the need to manage oxidative stress has possibly influenced the evolution of reproductive strategies, from courtship to parental care. I have also illustrated (1) the impact of oxidative stress on fertility, (2) differences between sexes in the regulation of oxidative status homeostasis, and (3) oxidative benefits and costs of cooperative breeding. Finally, I have highlighted a number of weaknesses in experimental designs that have been used to test the oxidative cost of reproduction hypothesis, calling for novel and more realistic studies.
Chapter
The origin of aerobic life is one of the most fascinating and elusive topics in biology. Multiple lines of evidence build a compelling case for a central role of oxygen in driving the evolution of complex multicellular life. With the transition from a reducing to an oxidising chemistry in the atmosphere and in the oceans, organisms expanded their biochemical and metabolic capacities to use oxygen to generate energy more efficiently. At the same time, organisms have evolved the so-called antioxidant mechanisms to protect themselves against the toxic effects of oxygen derivatives, such as free radicals and non-radical reactive oxygen species. There is now consensus that reactive oxygen species and antioxidants are of profound biological relevance across a wide range of organisms. In this chapter, I have summarised the definitions and fundamentals of oxidative status physiology to provide the basic background information for practitioners of the field. Specifically, I have provided (1) a general historical background and definitions of reactive oxygen species, antioxidants, and oxidative stress and (2) an overview of the main antioxidants that have so far been discovered. Finally, I have examined the circumstances under which oxidative stress can surprisingly increase phenotypic stress resistance or tolerance.
Chapter
The early environment in which an individual grows up and develops has profound, long-lasting, and often irreversible consequences for the phenotype throughout the individual lifetime. Identifying the physiological mechanisms that orchestrate the phenotypic development and mediate the trade-offs that occur early in life is critical for our understanding of how the diversity in growth and developmental strategies evolves. It is also important to explain why a strategy may be more successful under certain environmental circumstances than others, and also to determine how the individual oxidative status itself is moulded by early experiences. In this chapter, I have discussed (1) the role of maternal effects in moulding the oxidative status of their progeny and (2) how reactive oxygen species organise the phenotypic development. I have also illustrated the role of oxidative stress as both a constraint on and a cost of growth, and how the passive antioxidant protection transferred by mothers to their progeny through the egg, the placenta, or the milk interacts with the maturation of the endogenous antioxidant machinery in determining the organismal capacity to cope with oxidative stress. Finally, I have examined how hormetic priming early in life contributes to build phenotypic resistance to the many challenges of life.
Chapter
What you eat, when you eat, and where you eat have dramatic effects on many aspects of an individual life. Nutrition is a source of a number of substances that can increase the organismal resistance to oxidative stress. However, nutrition can also generate oxidative stress and trigger a cascade of molecular events that can disrupt cellular oxidative status. As a consequence, oxidative stress has also likely major implications for the evolution of foraging ecology and the strategies of maternal allocation of nutrients and antioxidants to their offspring. In this chapter, I have examined (i) the role that oxidative stress might have played in the evolution of foraging strategies and food selection, (ii) the links between diet and organismal resistance to oxidative stress, and (iii) the many ways through which mothers can shape offspring physiology through transfer of dietary antioxidants from them to their offspring.
Chapter
Scientists have always been fascinated by the extravagant body colourations of animals. Both females and males produce colourations or even achromatic signals that are used in the context of mate choice, but also in social interactions. Young can also produce colourations that advertise their quality to parents or siblings. Moreover, many species rely on body colourations as warning signals (e.g. Batesian and Müllerian mimicry). The expression of these signals is costly, but the underlying physiological mechanisms are not well understood. In this chapter, I have reviewed the evidence about the role of oxidative stress as a possible mediator of the expression of many of these signals, particularly carotenoid- and melanin-based colourations, or the conspicuous body colourations that are used by some species to signal their unprofitability to predators or to warn and ward off potential competitors.
Chapter
Immune function plays a fundamental role in the maintenance of organismal homeostasis. It protects the organism against parasites, pathogens, toxic substances, and cancerous cells. To this end, immune function relies on a complex system, involving molecules, cells, and tissues. However, immune responses against harmful agents carry different types of costs for the host that can manifest themselves in diverse ways, such as increased metabolic rate or trade-offs with other life processes (e.g. reduced growth or fertility). The emergence of these costs would explain why we observe a wide individual variation in immunological function. But how are these costs incurred? A pillar of the immuno-oxidative ecology is that oxidative stress is a major physiological cost of immune function that mediates the trade-off between the expression of life-history traits and the need to mount an immune response. In this chapter, I have reviewed (i) the main molecular and cellular mechanisms through which immune function generates oxidative stress, (ii) the studies that tested the effects of antigen injection and parasite exposure on oxidative damage and antioxidant levels in a wide range of vertebrates, and (iii) the ways by which pathogens respond to or evade the pro-oxidant attack generated by the host to kill them.
Article
Background In the past few decades, researchers have focused on finding the benefits of natural substances derived from plants. Objective This study aimed to evaluate the use of Brassica rapa seeds in poultry feed as an antioxidant and immunostimulant of host defenses. Methods We prepared three extracts using ethanol, Ethyl Acetate, and water. Spectrophotometric methods determined the total phenolic and flavonoid content in the three extracts. Antioxidant activity was assessed using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), ferric reducing/antioxidant power (FRAP), 2,2'-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt (ABTS) radicals and β-Carotene bleaching methods. An assessment of their immunostimulant activities in vitro was performed on chicken immunity cell proliferation (splenocytes, thymocytes, and Bursa cells) and IgY production. Method We prepared three different extracts using ethanol, Ethyl Acetate, and water. The total phenolic and flavonoid content in the three extracts was determined by spectrophotometric methods.Antioxidant activity has been assessed using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), ferric reducing/antioxidant power (FRAP), 2,2'-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt (ABTS) radicals and β-Carotene bleaching methods. Assessment of their immunostimulant activities in vitro was tested on chicken immunity cell proliferation (splenocytes, thymocytes, and Bursa cells) and IgY production Results The total phenolic contents ranged from 462.5 to 794.8 mg /g of extract, the order of TPC was as follows: EtOAc > EtOH >Water. Flavonoid contents were, 63.7 mg in EtOH extract, 81.2 mg in EtOAc extract, and 108.7 mg/g Extract in aqueous extract. By DPPH, the IC50s of EtOH, EtOAc, and water, were 1.8μg/ml, 2.4μg/ml, and 1.5μg/ml, respectively. Using the Ferric- Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP), we remarked that the EtOH and EtOAc extracts have important antioxidant powers. The ABTS assay indicated that EtOH and water had the highest activities with IC50s of 0.19 and 0.07, respectively. Finally, by the β-carotene bleaching test, we observed that the IC50 of the EtOH, EtOAc, and water were 62.1 μg/mL; 72.7 μg/mL, and 45.8 μg/mL, respectively. The results obtained indicate that Brassica aqueous extract stimulates humoral immunity by stimulating splenocyte (B and T-lymphocytes) and Bursa cell (B-lymphocyte) proliferation by more than 200% of response vs control. In addition, the aqueous extract highly stimulated the function of bursa cells by 208% of the reaction. In the same conditions, we recorded a stimulation of cellular immunity mediated by thymocytes by an increase in cell proliferation (352.7% of response) implicated in virus protection. These extracts also possessed an antimicrobial effect against diverse microorganisms such as coliforms and Staphylococcus. The FT-IR spectrum indicated that the hydroxyl group (phenol), hydroxybenzoic acid family, carbohydrate molecules such as glucopyranose, a carbonyl ester group, hydrocarbon chains (alkyls groups)) were present. Result The total phenolic contents ranged from 462.5 to 794.8 mg /g of Extract, the order of TPC was as follows: EtOAc > EtOH >Water. Flavonoid contents were, 63.7 mg in EtOH extract, 81.2 mg in EtOAc extract, and 108.7 mg/g Extract in aqueous extract.By DPPH, the IC50s of EtOH, EtOAc, and water, were respectively 1.8µg/ml, 2.4µg/ml, and 1.5µg/ml. Using the ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) we remarked that the EtOH and EtOAc extracts have important antioxidant powers. The ABTS assay indicated that EtOH and water had the highest activities with IC50s of 0.19 and 0.07 respectively. Finally, by the β-carotene bleaching test, we observed that the IC50 of the EtOH, EtOAc, and water were 62.1 µg/mL; 72.7 µg/mL, and 45.8 µg/mL respectively. The results obtained indicate that Brassica aqueous extract stimulates humoral immunity by stimulating splenocyte (B and T-lymphocytes) and Bursa cell (B-lymphocyte) proliferation by more than 200% of response vs control. In addition, the aqueous extract stimulated highly the function of bursa cells by 208% of the response. In the same conditions, we recorded a stimulation of cellular immunity mediated by thymocytes by an increase in cell proliferation (352.7% of response) implicated in virus protection. These extracts possessed also an antimicrobial effect against diverse microorganisms such as coliforms and Staphylococcus. The FT-IR spectrum indicated that the hydroxyl group (phenol), hydroxybenzoic acid family, carbohydrate molecules such as glucopyranose, a carbonyl ester group, hydrocarbon chains (alkyls groups)) were present. Conclusion This result could have interesting applications in the poultry feed industry to enhance the performance of animal development.
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Selenium is an essential trace element, which plays a key role in the development of reproductive performance and animal safety. This mineral is an important part of at least 25 effective proteins in a variety of physiological functions, including increased resistance to oxidative stress, DNA repair, and improvement to reproductive performance and immune function. Despite the fact that selenium requirement of birds can be met by corn-soybean meal diet, dietary sodium selenite up to a maximum level of 0.5 mg kg-1 is highly recommended to improve avian health and productive performance. However, interaction with other minerals, poor retention and lower deposition efficiency questioning the incorporation of sodium selenite into the diet. Vitamin E is the main antioxidant in egg yolk lipid terminating the lipid peroxidation chain by reacting with lipid peroxides and making them be stable. Diet supplementation with vitamin E could improve performance and egg quality and provided health benefits to laying hens. The positive effects of Se and vitamin E on egg production, egg quality traits has been extensively studied in laying hens, but information regarding the potential benefits of these antioxidants on the productive performance of Japanese quails is limited in literature. Thus, this study was conducted to investigate the combined effects of various sources of selenium (0.4 mg kg-1) plus vitamin E (120 mg kg-1) on performance, qualitative characteristics, immune system and blood metabolites of Japanese quails.
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A captive population of falcons was fed a diet containing a known quantity of vitamin A (retinol) and vitamin E (α-tocopherol) for 6 wk prior to and during egg laying. Infertile eggs were analyzed for vitamin A, vitamin E, carotenoid, and fatty acid composition. Mean daily vitamin intake was 29 mg VitE (35IU) and 1157 μg VitA (3363IU). Adjusted mean egg yolk content for infertile, unincubated eggs was 314 μg/g α-tocopherol and 3.06 μg/g VitA. A distinctive feature of the raptor egg yolk is a very high proportion of arachidonic acid that is probably a reflection of their carnivorous diet. A small number of plasma samples were also available from egg-laying falcons. Mean plasma vitamin E was 32.2 μg/mL and plasma vitamin A 1.02 μg/ml.
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The quality of the day-old broiler chick is foremost in the minds of many poultry managers. From fertilised ovum to the placement at the broiler farm, some factors such as the characteristics of the incubating eggs, the egg holding conditions, the incubation conditions and the conditions that exist between hatching and placement at the farm and their interactions may affect chick quality. It may be questioned if maximal hatchability is the best indicator for chick quality and/or post-hatching viability, even if optimal hatchability is considered a prerequisite for successful incubation. The environmental conditions during incubation (e.g. the temperature, humidity and ventilation rate (carbon dioxide concentration)) are not set independently from each other, although each may have its own optimum for hatchability and chick quality. These optima for each incubation factor may alter differentially according to the characteristics of the incubating egg. It is concluded that more independent control as well as more control of the variability of the classical physical conditions in the incubator are required in order to improve hatchability and chick quality.
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Selenium (Se) has a special place among the feed-derived natural antioxidants, being an integral part of selenoproteins participating in the regulation of various physiological processes in the body. As a part of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) Se belongs to the first and second major levels of antioxidant defence in the cell. There are two major sources of Se for poultry organic selenium, mainly in the form of selenomethionine (SeMet), which can be found in any feed ingredient in varying concentrations and inorganic selenium, mainly selenite or selenate, which are widely used for dietary supplementation. There is a principal difference in metabolism and efficiency of these two forms of selenium, with SeMet being more effective. In fact SeMet possesses antioxidant properties, however, in some conditions selenite can be a pro-oxidant. Se deficiency and excess in modern poultry production are very rare. In general, adequate Se supplementation is considered to be a crucial factor in maintaining the high productive and reproductive characteristics of commercial poultry.
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Carotenoids are a large group of more than 600 different biochemicals synthesized by bacteria, fungi, algae and plants. Higher animals obtain these biologically active pigments in the diet, and they are subsequently used in diverse bodily functions. They are disproportionately common components of the color of animal signals such as those used in sexual communication, signaling between offspring and their parents and in warning colors. Carotenoids also play important roles in various aspects of immune function and detoxification, and a trade-off between signaling and these physiological functions has been hypothesized. They may either signal foraging efficiency, immunocompetence or anti-oxidative potential of signalers. Carotenoids are usually limiting the maximum possible expression of a signal since supplementation experiments have commonly produced more exaggerated signals. There is considerable evidence supporting the prediction that parasites reduce the expression of carotenoid-based signals, and that such signals reliably reflect the ability of the signaler to produce a strong immune response. There is also some evidence consistent with the hypothesis that signals may reflect the anti-oxidant potential of signalers. If carotenoids commonly have important physiological functions among captive and free-living organisms, we hypothesize several ways in which this should affect the design of animal breeding programs and conservation programs involving captive breeding.
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An experiment with a factorial arrangement of treatment (3 by 2 by 2 by 2) was conducted to determine the effect of ascorbic-acid supplementation (0, 100, and 200 ppm) on the performance of two commercial layer strains housed at a density of either 3 or 4 birds per cage and relative humidities (RH) of 40% or 60%. The hens were subjected to a continuous heat stress of 31.1 degrees C for the 3-mo experimental period. As a comparison with an unstressed control group, an additional group of hens was housed at 23.9 degrees C and 40% RH and was fed the diet without ascorbic-acid supplementation. Mortality was reduced by ascorbic-acid supplementation. Shell weight per unit surface area showed a small increase with the added ascorbic acid. Values (in Haugh units) were increased by ascorbic-acid supplementation at the 200 ppm level and by the lower relative humidity. The higher RH reduced egg production by 4.16% and changed feed efficiency from 2.29 to 2.45 g of feed intake per gram of egg mass. There were differences in blood pH, blood CO2, blood HCO3-, and blood and adrenal ascorbic-acid levels due to the housing temperature. The higher RH produced blood-chemistry changes that were typical of respiratory alkalosis, which has been shown to occur in layers at high temperatures. Higher cage density, on the other hand, showed no change in the HCO3 level; but blood pCO2 was increased while blood pH was decreased. These results demonstrate that ascorbic-acid supplementation can be effective in reducing laying-hen mortality due to environmental stress and has small influences on egg quality.
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The objective of the present study was to establish age relationships for hepatic and whole blood glutathione (GSH) in male broiler chickens, quail, and turkeys utilizing lines within each poultry species with different rates of growth. Liver and blood samples were obtained from three quail lines (light, medium, and heavy) at 3 and 6 wk of age, from two turkey lines (light and heavy) at 10 and 20 wk of age, and two broiler lines (medium and heavy) at 3, 5, and 7 wk of age. With the exception of the heavy turkey line, older birds generally exhibited higher hepatic GSH concentrations than younger birds. There was no apparent age-related difference in whole blood GSH, nor was whole blood GSH correlated with hepatic GSH in any poultry species.
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Oxidative DNA damage is important in aging and the degenerative diseases of aging such as cancer. Estimates commonly rely on measurements of 8-oxo-2′-deoxyguanosine (oxo8dG), an adduct that occurs in DNA and is also excreted in urine after DNA repair. Here we examine difficulties inherent in the analysis of oxo8dG, identify sources of artifacts, and provide solutions to some of the common methodological problems. A frequent criticism has been that phenol in DNA extraction solutions artificially increases the measured level of oxo8dG. We found that phenol extraction of DNA contributes a real but minor increase in the level of oxo8dG when compared, under equivalent conditions, with a successful nonphenol method. A more significant reduction in the baseline level was achieved with a modification of the recently introduced chaotropic NaI method, reducing our estimate of the level of steady-state oxidative adducts by an order of magnitude to 24,000 adducts per cell in young rats and 66,000 adducts per cell in old rats. Of several alternative methods tested, the use of this chaotropic technique of DNA isolation by using NaI produced the lowest and least variable oxo8dG values. In further studies we show that human urinary 8-oxo-guanine (oxo8Gua) excretion is not affected by the administration of allopurinol, suggesting that, unlike some methylated adducts, oxo8Gua is not derived enzymatically from xanthine oxidase. Lastly, we discuss remaining uncertainties inherent both in steady-state oxo8dG measurements and in estimates of endogenous oxidation (“hit rates”) based on urinary excretion of oxo8dG and oxo8Gua.
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The hatching process is characterized by a range of adaptive changes, and a newly hatched chick is considered as an intermediate stage between prenatal and postnatal development. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the characteristic relationships between tissue-specific fatty acid composition and antioxidant protection in newly hatched chicks. Liver, yolk sac membrane, heart, kidney, lung, and four brain regions (cerebrum, cerebellum, stem, and optic lobes) were collected. Fatty acid composition of total lipids and phosphoglycerides, alpha-tocopherol, lutein, ascorbic acid, reduced glutathione, and the activities of Mn- and Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutase (SOD) and Se-dependent and non-Se-glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and catalase (CAT) were determined. The levels of Fe, Cu, Zn, and Mn as well as tissue susceptibility to lipid peroxidation were also studied. The tissues of the newly hatched chick showed distinctive features in fatty acid profiles, antioxidant accumulation, and susceptibility to lipid peroxidation. The brain clearly displayed the greatest susceptibility to spontaneous and Fe-stimulated lipid peroxidation, was highly unsaturated and contained very low levels of vitamin E, no detectable carotenoids, low GSH-Px, and low CAT activity. At the same time, the brain was characterized by high ascorbic acid concentration and comparatively high SOD activity. It was suggested that in postnatal development, antioxidant enzymes presumably play the major role in antioxidant protection of the chick tissues.
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1. The effect of supplementing the diet of the parent hen with vitamin E on the vitamin E content of the yolk and of embryonic and neonatal tissues was evaluated and the effects of elevated tissue concentrations of vitamin E on peroxidation susceptibility was examined. 2. Laying hens (Ross 1 broiler-breeder strain) were maintained on diets containing either 147 (control diet) or 365 (high vitamin E diet) microg vitamin E/g feed. 3. In the day-16 embryo, the concentrations of of vitamin E in the yolk sac membrane, liver, brain and lung were respectively 5.0, 4.3, 1.7 and 5.6 times greater for those derived from the hens on the high vitamin E diet compared with those from the control group. 4. In the day-old chick, the concentrations of vitamin E in the yolk sac membrane, liver, brain and lung were respectively 14.8, 2.8, 3.0 and 5.1 times greater for those derived from hens on the high vitamin E diet compared with those from the control group. 5. Homogenates of tissues from the day-old chick were incubated in the absence and presence of Fe2+ in order to determine the extent of spontaneous and iron-stimulated peroxidation as measured by the generation of thiobarbituric acid reacting substances. For the chicks derived from hens on the control diet, the brain was markedly more susceptible to both spontaneous and iron-stimulated peroxidation than were the other tissues. Tissues from the chicks derived from the hens on the high vitamin E diet exhibited significantly reduced susceptibilities to peroxidation. In particular, the susceptibility of the brain was reduced to the same level as that of the other tissues. 6. It is concluded that the high peroxidative susceptibility of the chick's brain can be normalised by supplementation of the parent hen with vitamin E.
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1. Tissue-specific profiles of the expression of the antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and catalase (CAT) and the concentrations of reduced glutathione (GSH) during the development of the chick embryo were investigated. 2. The liver, brain, yolk sac membrane (YSM), kidney, lung, heart and skeletal muscles were collected at the following days of embryo development: 10, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21 and 22 (day-old chicks). 3. The different tissues of the embryo displayed distinct development strategies with regard to the acquisition of antioxidant capacity. In the liver the specific activity of SOD increased between days 10 and 11 of development, then significantly decreased up to day 15 and remained at the same value during the rest of the developmental period. GSH-Px specific activity increased through the time of development. CAT had 2 peaks of specific activity at day 10 of the development and in day-old chicks. 4. The brain was characterised by comparatively high SOD-specific activity especially during the last days of incubation. The specific activities of GSH-Px and CAT were low throughout development. 5. In the YSM maximal GSH-Px and CAT-specific activities were found on day 15 of incubation. In the kidney and heart GSH-Px-specific activity increased at hatching time. CAT-specific activity in the kidney increased just after hatching. 6. It is concluded that each tissue studied expressed a profile of antioxidant defence mechanisms to deal with oxidative stress at hatching time.
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Tissue-specific accumulation of tocopherols and tocotrienols in turkey tissues during embryonic development and their susceptibility to lipid peroxidation were investigated. Fertile turkey eggs were incubated using standard commercial conditions. Embryonic tissues were collected at 16, 22, 25 d of incubation and from day-old poults (referred to as day 29) and alpha-; beta- + gamma- and delta-tocopherols and respective tocotrienols were analysed by HPLC. A turkey diet provided to the parent hens contained the complete range of tocopherols and tocotrienols. Between days 16 and 22 of embryo development, the alpha-tocopherol concentration in the liver remained constant and then increased significantly (P<0.01) reaching a maximum just after hatching. Similar changes were observed for the other tocopherols and tocotrienols. The accumulation of alpha-tocopherol in the yolk sac membrane (YSM) started after day 20 of development and at hatching the alpha-tocopherol concentration in the YSM was twice that of beta- + gamma-tocopherols and 15 times greater than that of alpha-tocotrienol. In the kidney, heart, lung, muscle and adipose tissues a gradual increase in tocopherol and tocotrienol concentrations took place between days 20 and 25 of development with a sharp increase in particular of alpha-tocopherol between days 25 and 29. There was a discrimination between tocopherols and tocotrienols during their assimilation from the diet by the parent hen and during metabolism by the developing turkey embryo. Tissue-specific features in the susceptibility to lipid peroxidation were found with the brain being the most susceptible to lipid peroxidation at day 25 and in day-old poults.
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To evaluate the ability of designer eggs enriched in vitamin E, lutein, selenium (Se) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) to deliver micronutrients to the human in a palatable and visually acceptable form. Double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, two treatment groups balanced for sex and age. Department of Biochemistry and Nutrition, SAC, Scotland. Forty healthy adult volunteers completed the study. Volunteers were recruited among staff of the Scottish Agricultural College Interventions: Volunteers consumed, for 8 weeks, either a designer egg or a normal table egg per day. Fasting blood samples were taken before and at the end of the study. Consumption of designer eggs enriched in vitamin E, lutein, Se and DHA significantly increased the levels of alpha-tocopherol, lutein and DHA in plasma as compared to the changes found after consumption of normal table eggs, with the largest increases found in plasma lutein (1.88-fold increase). The proportion of DHA was increased in all the main lipid classes of the plasma including triacylglycerol (2.3-fold), free fatty acids (1. 6-fold), cholesteryl ester (1.4-fold) and phospholipid (1.3-fold). Egg consumption did not change Se concentration in plasma, blood pressure, total plasma lipid concentrations or the concentrations of total cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol in plasma. Consumption of designer eggs enriched in vitamin E, lutein, DHA and Se as part of normal diet for 8 weeks effectively increased the blood levels of alpha-tocopherol, lutein and DHA. Scottish Office Agriculture, Environment, and Fisheries Department.
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1. The effects of selenium and vitamin E supplementation of the maternal diet on their transfer to the egg yolk and tissues of the newly hatched chick and on the development of the antioxidant system in the chick liver in early postnatal life were investigated. 2. One hundred Cobb broiler breeder hens were divided into 10 equal groups and housed in pens at 25 weeks of age. Each hen received 1 of the treatment diets which included 0.2 or 0.4 mg/kg selenium, 40, 100, 200 mg/kg vitamin E or their combination. After 6 weeks, the hens were artificially inseminated once per week. From week 8, eggs were collected and placed in an incubator. After hatching, chicks from each group were reared (under standard commercial conditions) to 10 d of age. The chicks were fed on a standard starter commercial broiler diet. At the time of hatching, and at 5 and 10 days old, 4 chicks from each group were sacrificed and blood, liver and brain were collected for the subsequent biochemical analyses. 3. The inclusion of organic selenium or vitamin E in the commercial diet significantly increased their concentration in the egg and in the liver of 1-d-old chicks obtained from the eggs enriched with these substances. A positive effect of such dietary supplementation was seen at d 5 and d 10 of postnatal development. 4. There was a positive effect of selenium supplementation of the maternal diet on glutathione concentration in the liver of 1-d-old and 5-d-old chicks. A combination of a dietary selenium supplementation with high vitamin E doses further increased glutathione concentration in the liver. Dietary selenium supplementation significantly increased selenium-dependent glutathione peroxidase (Se-GSH-Px) activity in the liver of the 1-d-old and 5-d-old chicks and decreased liver susceptibility to peroxidation. 6. It is concluded that the nutritional status of the laying hen determines the efficiency of the antioxidant system throughout embryonic and early postnatal development of the offspring.
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The beneficial health-promoting effects of the long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) of the n-3 series make them important constituents of human and animal diets. The effects of tuna oil or a combination of tuna oil with an increased level of vitamin E on the fatty acid profile and vitamin E distribution in tissues taken from cockerels were studied. Male chickens (Ross broiler breeders), penned on white wood shavings, were allocated into one of three groups with 12 birds per group and were fed from 10 wk of age on a commercial diet supplemented with 3% corn oil (control) or with 3% Tuna orbital oil (TO). Vitamin E was added at the rate of 40 mg/ kg, except in the third group in which the birds received a diet containing TO (3%) supplemented with 160 mg/kg vitamin E (TO+E). At 72 wk of age, the cockerels were killed, and tissues (liver, testes, heart, lung, kidney, spleen, thigh muscle, pancreas, internal fat, cerebellum, and cerebrum) were dissected for lipid and vitamin E analyses. Inclusion of TO in the cockerel diets significantly (P < 0.01) increased docosahexanoic acid (DHA) proportions in the major lipid fractions of the tissues with the brain being more resistant to lipid manipulation compared with the other tissues. Tissue enrichment with DHA took place at the expense of a decrease of n-6 PUFA. In the DHA-enriched tissues, vitamin E level decreased (P < 0.05), and susceptibility to peroxidation (TBARS accumulation) significantly (P < 0.01) increased. High vitamin E supplementation (160 mg/kg) in combination with TO prevented decrease of alpha-tocopherol concentration in the tissues and normalized or even increased their resistance to lipid peroxidation. There was tissue-specificity in response to dietary vitamin E supplementation; the liver was most responsive and the cerebellum was most resistant to vitamin E manipulation.
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1. The fatty acid profile of egg yolk and vitamin E and carotenoid accumulation in the egg yolk and embryonic tissues were investigated in relation to the maternal diet. 2. Two hundred fertile eggs (Ross 308 Broiler Breeder), obtained from hens fed on a maize-based (M-diet) or a wheat-based diet (W-diet), were incubated using standard conditions. 3. The egg yolk and embryo tissues (residual yolk, yolk sac membrane, liver, kidney, lung, muscles, adipose tissue and plasma) were collected on d 18 of incubation and on d 21 (newly-hatched chicks) and analysed for fatty acids, vitamin E and carotenoids. 4. The diets did not differ in terms of fatty acid or alpha-tocopherol concentrations. The concentration of carotenoids in the M-diet was 11.8 mg/kg and in the W-diet was 5.6 mg/kg with lutein and zeaxanthin being major carotenoids. 5. Eggs from the M-group contained higher (P<0.01) concentrations of beta+gamma-tocopherols, total carotenoids, lutein and zeaxanthin. Chickens hatched from those eggs were characterised by the increased concentrations of total carotenoids and zeaxanthin in all the tissues studied. The concentration of beta+gamma-tocopherol was enhanced only in the liver and yolk sac membrane. 6. It is concluded that the maternal diet plays an important role in antioxidant systems formation during chick embryonic development; the M-diet can increase the antioxidant potential of the egg yolk and embryonic tissues compared to the antioxidant potential provided by parent birds fed the W-diet.
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Reported in this paper is an experiment designed to evaluate responses of two commercial broiler dam purelines (A and B) continuously fed 10 or 300 IU of vitamin E/kg from 168 to 441 d of age. Prior to Day 168, all pullets were fed diets containing 10 IU of vitamin E/kg. During the early laying period, percentage hen-day ovulations and percentage hen-day normal egg production were similar for both lines and diets. During the latter part of the laying cycle, there were differences between lines for these traits (A > B), as well as for BW and egg weight for which line differences were reversed (A < B). Also during this period, percentage hen-day ovulations and percentage hen-day normal egg production differed between diets (300 > 10 IU/kg). These differences between diets were consistent with the greater number of females that entered lay and higher hen-housed egg production of the 300- than 10-IU/kg group. Although during the laying cycle all females received a fixed amount of feed, BW gains were greater for Line B than A and for the 300- than the 10-IU/kg level of vitamin E. Heterophil (H):lymphocyte (L) ratios, percentage livability, and relative asymmetries of shank length and diameter were similar among groups. Pullets from Line B and those fed the higher level of vitamin E exhibited more fear than their counterparts. Head shaking did not differ between vitamin E levels; however, there was a line-by-time of day interaction for this behavior. The 30-fold difference in dietary vitamin E was reflected by a 15-fold difference in plasma vitamin E levels in both lines. For vitamin E level in the yolk, however, there was a line-by-diet interaction. The interaction resulted from no difference between lines at the 10 IU/kg level and differences of 10- and 6+-fold in Lines B and A at the 300 IU/kg level, respectively. Overall, responses to continuous feeding of vitamin E at these levels were influenced by genetic stock, age, duration of feeding, and measurement criteria.
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Egg quality is a phenotype of, and can profoundly influence fitness in, both mother and offspring. However, the physiological mechanisms that underlie this maternal effect are poorly understood. Carotenoids are hypothesized to enhance antioxidant activity and immune function, and are responsible for the pigmentation of egg yolk. The proximate basis and consequences of this maternal investment, however, have not previously been studied in wild birds. In this supplemental feeding study of lesser black-backed gulls, Larus fuscus, carotenoid-fed females are shown to have increased integument pigmentation, higher plasma concentrations of carotenoids and antioxidant activity, and lower plasma concentrations of immunoglobulins (Igs) in comparison with controls. In turn, carotenoid-fed females produced eggs containing high carotenoid but low Ig concentrations (i.e. passive immunity), whereas control females produced eggs containing low carotenoid but high Ig concentrations. Within-clutch patterns of these resources varied over the laying sequence in a similar manner in both carotenoid-fed and control nests. Our results suggest that carotenoids could be one resource responsible for egg quality maternal effects in birds. We discuss the possible implications of carotenoid-mediated effects on phenotype for fitness in mothers and their offspring.
Article
The relationship between the levels of the lipid-soluble antioxidants, alpha-tocopherol and carotenoids, in the parental diet, the yolk and the neonatal tissues was investigated for four avian species of commercial importance. The chicken displayed a much greater efficiency in incorporating alpha-tocopherol from the parental diet into the yolk in comparison with the turkey, duck and goose. Thus, in spite elf similar concentrations in the respective diets, the resultant concentration of alpha-tocopherol in the yolk of the chicken egg was four to five times greater than observed for the other three species. A similar but less dramatic picture was observed for carotenoids: identical dietary provision of carotenoids in the maternal feeds resulted in the chicken eggs displaying between 1.4 and 1.9 times the concentration in the yolk than was observed for the other three species. These differences between the species regarding the levels of a-tocopherol and carotenoids in the yolk were closely reflected in the subsequent concentrations of these components in the livers of the hatchlings. Thus, the concentrations of a-tocopherol and carotenoids in the liver of the day-old chicken were respectively about three and two times greater than in the livers of the other three species. Although the water-soluble antioxidant, ascorbic acid, is synthesised by the embryo as opposed to provision via the maternal diet and the yolk, the concentration of this component in the brain of the day-old chicken was approximately 50% greater than in the brains of the other three species. Thus, it is possible that the antioxidant, capacity of the developing turkey, duck and goose may be compromised under conditions of commercial production. All four species displayed a rapid depletion of alpha-tocopherol and carotenoids from the livers during the first 9 days after hatching. (C) 1998 SCI.
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Laying hens were placed on either a control diet or a carotenoid-supplemented diet. The subsequent concentrations of carotenoids in the yolks of the newly laid fertile eggs (μg carotenoid/g fresh yolk) were 13.3 and 41.1 on the control diet and high-carotenoid diet, respectively. For the day-old chicks derived from the high-carotenoid group, the carotenoid levels in the yolk sac membrane, liver, and plasma were approximately 3 times greater than in the control group; however, the other tissues were less responsive. The proportion of lutein (% wt/wt of total carotenoids) was far lower in the liver of the chick than in the yolk. However, in the non-hepatic tissues the proportion of lutein was generally higher than in the yolk. This suggests that discrimination between different carotenoids may occur in the embryo. For the high-carotenoid group, the peroxidative susceptibility of extracts of the yolk, yolk sac membrane, and liver was decreased compared with samples from the control group. Thus, carotenoids may provide antioxidant protection to the tissues.
Article
The effect of a range of concentrations of α-tocopherol in the initial yolk on the subsequent levels of this vitamin in the tissues of the newly hatched chick was investigated. Four batches of fertile eggs (Ross 1 broiler-breeder type) with mean yolk α-tocopherol concentrations (μg g−1 yolk) of 60·8, 155·3, 272·2 and 376·6 were incubated and the levels of the vitamin in the liver, brain, heart and kidney of the resultant chicks were measured. The liver of the day-old chick contained far higher levels of the vitamin than were found in the other tissues studied. The concentration of α-tocopherol in the liver was directly proportional to the initial level of this vitamin in the yolk. The concentrations of α-tocopherol in the brain were only about 1% of the corresponding liver values but were also directly proportional to the levels initially present in the yolk. The concentrations of α-tocopherol exhibited by the heart and kidney were affected by the initial yolk values but the response was not linear over the range of yolk α-tocopherol concentrations studied. The results indicate that the initial concentration of α-tocopherol in the yolk has a profound effect on the subsequent levels of this vitamin in the tissues of the chick. In a separate experiment, the changes in the concentration of α-tocopherol in the liver were studied over the first 9 days after hatching. The vitamin was found to be rapidly depleted from the liver after hatching. © 1997 SCI.
Article
1. Within-clutch variation in parental investment of yolk lipid (including essential fatty acid composition and fat-soluble vitamin content) was investigated in whole clutches of three eggs of Lesser Black-backed Gulls, Larus fuscus. 2. Although there were no significant differences between years in egg size or yolk mass among eggs of the same laying order, eggs collected in 1996 had significantly lower lipid content than those collected in 1997. 3. In both years third-laid c-eggs were smaller, had a smaller mass of yolk and had significantly lower yolk lipid mass compared with earlier laid (a- and b-) eggs. 4. Despite this lower lipid mass of c-eggs, of the different lipid fractions only cholesterol content of c-eggs was significantly lower than that of a- or b-eggs. 5. Earlier laid eggs had greater amounts of arachidonic acid in the phospholipid and cholesterol ester fractions of yolk lipid, and considerably greater quantities of vitamin E and carotenoids. 6. Conversely, levels of linoleic acid and vitamin A were equalized among eggs of different laying sequence as both these essential nutrients have primarily systemic roles. 7. The probable effect of increased antioxidant (vitamin E and carotenoid) content of earlier-laid eggs is to enhance embryonic and neonatal growth and development, reduce susceptibility to pathogens and increase the ability of the embryo to withstand the oxidative stress associated with hatching. 8. The results suggest that there is maternal bias of essential nutrients to offspring with the highest reproductive value in order to maximize reproductive success.
Article
Differences between four avian species of commercial importance (chicken, turkey, duck and goose), in terms of the relationship between the dietary fatty acids supplied in the diet of the layers and the fatty acid composition of the egg yolk lipids, were investigated. Laying hens of the four species were provided with diets with very similar fatty acid compositions. The polyunsaturated fatty acid content of the diets consisted of linoleic and -linolenic acids at approximately 50% and 6% (w/w of total fatty acids), respectively, for all four species. In spite of the very similar dietary provision of fatty acids, the subsequent fatty acid profiles of the yolk lipids differed markedly between the four species. In particular, the proportion of docosahexaenoic acid in the total lipid of the yolk was three to five times greater for the chicken compared to the other three species. By contrast, the proportion of arachidonic acid in total yolk lipid was approximately two times greater for the goose and duck than for the chicken and turkey. Thus the chicken was more efficient at incorporating long-chain (C22 ) fatty acid of the n-3 series into yolk lipid whereas the duck and goose preferentially incorporated C20 fatty acid of the n-6 series. The turkey eggs contained a similar proportion of arachidonic acid but less docosahexaenoic acid than the chicken eggs. The main differences between the avian species in terms of the yolk levels of C20 –22 polyunsaturated fatty acids were in the phospholipid fraction since only low levels of these fatty acids were present in the triacylglycerol fraction. The relative proportions of docosahexaenoic acid in the phospholipid and triacylglycerol fractions of the livers of the newly-hatched chicks of the four species reflected the differences displayed by the yolks. The proportions of arachidonic acid in these liver lipid fractions, however, did not reflect the species differences in yolk lipid composition.© 1999 Society of Chemical Industry
Article
The aim of this study was to assess the differences in yolk lipid composition of pheasants and geese between birds maintained in captivity on commercial grain-based diets and their counterparts in the wild which are free to select their diets from the environment. The most striking difference was that the proportion of α-linolenic acid (18:3n-3) was far greater in all yolk lipid classes [triacylglycerol (TAG), phospholipid (PL), cholesteryl ester (CE)] of the wild birds than in the captive birds of both species. For example, in yolk TAG, the level (wt.% of total fatty acids) of 18:3n-3 was only 1.6% in eggs of captive pheasants compared with 27.9% in eggs of the wild birds. The proportions of 18:3n-3 in yolk TAG of housed, free-range and feral geese were 0.6, 6.6 and 19.3% respectively. It is suggested that these differences arise from the predominance of linoleic acid (18:2n-6) as the major polyunsaturate in the commercial grain-based feeds whereas geese and pheasants in the wild consume grasses and green shoots in which 18:3n-3 is the main fatty acid. The concentrations of vitamin E and carotenoids in the yolks of the free-range and feral geese were much greater than in those of the housed geese. Thus the developing embryos of pheasants and geese in the wild will have access to far higher levels of n-3 polyunsaturates and lipid-soluble antioxidants compared with embryos of the housed birds.
Article
Biosynthesis of ascorbic acid was found in the kidneys (mesonephros and metanephros) of the chick embryo as well as in the yolk sac membrane. The activity of L-gulonolactone oxidase in the yolk sac membrane suggested that it was the major source of ascorbic acid in the chick embryo.
Article
Day-old chickens were treated with 3.25 mg vitamin E/bird/day per os, via the drinking water, for two weeks. The vitamin E content of both the liver and the blood plasma was significantly higher in the treated chickens than in the untreated controls. The positive effect was more pronounced in the liver than in the blood plasma.
Article
Free radicals and other oxygen-derived species are constantly generated in vivo, both by "accidents of chemistry" and for specific metabolic purposes. The reactivity of different free radicals varies, but some can cause severe damage to biological molecules, especially to DNA, lipids, and proteins. Antioxidant defense systems scavenge and minimize the formation of oxygen-derived species, but they are not 100% effective. Hence, diet-derived antioxidants may be particularly important in diminishing cumulative oxidative damage and helping us to stay healthier for longer. Repair systems exist to deal with molecules that have been oxidatively damaged. Damage to DNA by hydroxyl radicals appears to occur in all aerobic cells, and might be a significant contributor to the age-dependent development of cancer. Lipid peroxidation probably contributes significantly to the development of atherosclerosis.
Article
The purpose of this study was to determine the tissue-specific acquisition of antioxidant capacity during chick embryo development and to assess the effectiveness of this process in the prevention of lipid peroxidation. The transfer of alpha-tocopherol, carotenoids and ascorbic acid from the yolk/yolk sac membrane (YSM) to the developing chick embryo and the distribution of these antioxidant compounds between the embryonic tissues were investigated. The concentrations of alpha-tocopherol and carotenoids in the yolk decreased between day 15 of development and hatching at day 21, concomitant with an increase in the levels of these antioxidants in the YSM. The concentration of both these lipid-soluble antioxidants in the liver increased dramatically between day 18 of embryonic development and day 1 after hatching. The adipose tissue content of alpha-tocopherol also increased markedly during the late embryonic/early neonatal period. However, the levels of alpha-tocopherol in the liver were far higher than in any other tissue with particularly low levels observed for the brain. Also, carotenoids were undetectable in the developing brain. Ascorbic acid was not present in the initial yolk but high levels of this water-soluble antioxidant were detected in the YSM, particularly at the early stages of development. The concentration of ascorbic acid in the embryonic brain was far higher than in any other tissue. Homogenates of brain tissue were extremely susceptible to lipid peroxidation during incubation in vitro whereas extracts of liver, yolk and YSM were relatively resistant to lipid peroxidation, particularly in the absence of exogenous Fe2+.
Article
Epidemiological studies have identified several factors that are likely to have a major effect on reducing rates of cancer: reduction of smoking, increased consumption of fruits and vegetables, and control of infections. Other factors include avoidance of intense sun exposure, increased physical activity, and reduced consumption of alcohol and possibly red meat. Risks of many types of cancer can already be reduced, and the potential for further reductions is great. In the United States, cancer death rates for all cancers combined are decreasing, if lung cancer (90% of which is due to smoking), is excluded from the analysis. We review the research on causes of cancer and show why much cancer is preventable. The idea that traces of synthetic chemicals, such as DDT, are major contributors to human cancer is not supported by the evidence, yet public concern and resource allocation for reduction of chemical pollution are very high, in part because standard risk assessment uses linear extrapolation from limited data in high-dose animal cancer tests. These tests are done at the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) and are typically misinterpreted to mean that low doses of synthetic chemicals and industrial pollutants are relevant to human cancer. About half the chemicals tested, whether synthetic or natural, are carcinogenic to rodents at such high doses. Almost all chemicals in the human diet are natural. For example, 99.99% of the pesticides we eat are naturally present in plants to ward off insects and other predators. Half of the natural pesticides that have been tested at the MTD are rodent carcinogens. Cooking food produces large numbers of natural dietary chemicals. Roasted coffee, for example, contains more than 1000 chemicals: of 27 tested, 19 are rodent carcinogens. Increasing evidence supports the idea that the high frequency of positive results in rodent bioassays is due to testing at the MTD, which frequently can cause chronic cell killing and consequent cell replacement-a risk factor for cancer that can be limited to high doses. Because default risk assessments use linear extrapolation, which ignores effects of the high dose itself, low-dose risks are often exaggerated.
Article
The present study was undertaken to evaluate the detoxifying capacity of organogenesis-stage murine concepti cultured in vitro. Investigative attention was particularly focused on the embryonic tissue distribution of cytoprotective pathways. Glutathione (GSH) status, GSH-related and antioxidant enzymes were assayed in the embryo proper (EP), visceral yolk sac (VYS) and ectoplacental cone (EC) of 29.44 +/- 1.56 (mean +/- SD) somite pairs concepti. All the tissues displayed significant and comparable concentrations of GSH, further supporting this tripeptide as critical in protection against embryotoxicants. The totality of enzymatic activities was detectable in the selected embryonic compartments. In terms of spatial distribution analysis, maximal activities were found in EC (glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, superoxide dismutase and glyoxalase I and II), and VYS (glutathione transferase and catalase). These results indicate: (1) the organogenesis-stage conceptus, in addition to significant amounts of GSH, expresses constitutive activities of GSH-related and antioxidant enzymes; (2) maximal activity levels are detectable in the embryonic sites which, at the developmental stage selected for assay, serve (VYS) or are evolving to serve (EC) embryo/maternal exchange, and thus represent the primary sites of interaction with foreign compounds.
Article
1. The effects of different dietary concentrations of vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol acetate) were investigated in 2 experiments on laying hens exposed to chronic heat stress at 32 degrees C. 2. In the first experiment, egg production and plasma concentrations of calcium and egg yolk precursors were measured in 24 hens before, during and after a stress period of one week and fed on diets containing 10 or 500 mg vitamin E/kg. 3. In the second, larger experiment, egg production and food intake were measured in 300 hens housed in 2 temperature-controlled rooms and fed on diets containing 10, 125 or 500 mg vitamin E/kg. Birds in room 1 were stressed from 24 to 28 weeks of age and those in room 2 from 32 to 36 weeks. 4. In experiment 1, egg production and egg weight were significantly higher (72.6 vs 51.2%, P < 0.05 and 66.6 vs 63.1 g, P < 0.005 respectively) during and after the period of stress in the group given 500 mg vitamin E/kg. Plasma concentrations of calcium, vitellogenin (zinc) and VLDL (triglyceride) were also higher in this group. 5. In experiment 2, egg production was significantly higher (65.4 vs 56.2%, P < 0.05) during and after the period of heat stress in birds in room 1 fed on the diet containing 500 mg vitamin E/kg. Egg production was also higher (49.9% vs 44.7%) on this treatment during the stress period in room 2, though the difference was not significant (P < 0.10). Egg weight and food intake were unaffected by treatment in either room. 6. It is concluded that dietary supplementation with extra vitamin E can, at least in part, alleviate the adverse effects of chronic heat stress in laying hens, perhaps by maintaining the supply of egg precursors in plasma.
Article
The aim of this study was to investigate the possibility of biodiscrimination between different forms of vitamin E during the development of the chick embryo. The vitamin E present in the initial yolk consisted of alpha-tocopherol (90%), (beta + gamma)-tocopherol (8%), alpha-tocotrienol (0.3%) and (beta + gamma)-tocotrienol (1.3%). In marked contrast, the vitamin E recovered from the bile of the day-16 embryo contained much higher proportions of alpha-tocotrienol (10%) and especially of (beta + gamma)-tocotrienol (42%). By the time of hatching, 56% of the vitamin E present in the bile was in the form of (beta + gamma)-tocotrienol. The residual yolk of the newly-hatched chick contained far greater proportions of alpha-tocotrienol (2.6%) and (beta + gamma)-tocotrienol (10%) than were present in the initial yolk. The results suggest that the liver of the embryo may selectively excrete tocotrienols as components of bile, whilst retaining the tocopherols within the hepatocytes. The increased proportions of tocotrienols in the residual yolk may result from the recycling of bile from the gall bladder to the yolk. The liver of the day-old chick contained alpha-tocopherol as the main form of vitamin E (90%) with only a small proportion (0.2%) of (beta + gamma)-tocotrienol. The alpha-tocopherol form was also the main vitamin E component in the brain (85%), heart (79%), lung (82%) and adipose tissue (91%) of the day-old chick. The present study suggests the occurrence of a high degree of biodiscrimination between tocopherols and tocotrienols during the development of the chick embryo.
Article
Although researchers in radiation and cancer biology have known about the existence of free radicals and their potential role in pathobiology for several decades, cardiac biologists only began to take notice of these noxious species in the 1970s. Exponential growth of free radical research occurred after the discovery of superoxide dismutase in 1969. This antioxidant enzyme is responsible for the dismutation of superoxide radical--a free radical chain initiator. A fine balance between free radicals and a variety of endogenous antioxidants is believed to exist. Any disturbance in this equilibrium in favour of free radicals causes an increase in oxidative stress and initiates subcellular changes leading to cardiomyopathy and heart failure. Our knowledge about the role of free radicals in the pathogenesis of cardiac dysfunction is fast approaching the point where newer therapies employing antioxidants are in sight.
Article
1. The effects of different dietary concentrations of vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol acetate) were investigated on laying hens exposed to chronic heat stress at 32 degrees C from 26 to 30 weeks of age. 2. Diets containing 5 dietary concentrations of vitamin E (a control diet containing 10 mg alpha-tocopherol/kg or this diet supplemented to contain 125, 250, 375 and 500 mg alpha-tocopherol/kg) were fed to 335 birds. Half of the birds received the supplemented diets for only 4 weeks before the heat stress period (short supplementation duration, SSD) and were fed on the control diet for a further 12 weeks. The remaining birds were fed on the supplemented diets throughout the experiment, 4 weeks before, 4 weeks during and 8 weeks after the heat stress period (long supplementation duration, LSD). 3. Egg production was significantly higher during (80-6 vs 68.9%, P<0.02) and after (75.3 vs 62.7%, P<0.02) the period of stress in the LSD group fed on the diet containing 250 mg vitamin E/kg compared with the group fed on the control diet. LSD birds given 375 and 500 mg vitamin E/kg also had higher egg production than control birds during heat stress but the differences failed to reach significance (74.6 vs 68.9% and 77.1 vs 68.9% respectively). In the SSD groups, mean egg production of the birds given the diets supplemented with 125 mg vitamin E/kg or more was significantly different from the control group after heat stress (70.3 vs 62.7%, P<0.05). Egg weight and food intake were similar in all the groups. 4. Plasma and liver vitamin E concentrations were proportional to the vitamin E intake before the stress period, dropped during heat stress in the SSD groups but were maintained at concentrations closer to those observed before heat stress in the LSD groups. 5. It is concluded that a dietary supplement of 250 mg vitamin E/kg provided before, during and after heat stress is optimum for alleviating, at least in part, the adverse effects of chronic heat stress in laying hens.
Article
Interest in ubiquinone (UQ) has increased during recent years, mainly because of its antioxidant function and its use as a dietary supplement. However, our knowledge of the biosynthesis, catabolism, and regulation of this lipid in mammalian tissues is quite limited. UQ exhibits a high rate of turnover in all tissues indicating that cells possess efficient metabolic pathways for handling this compound and controlling its tissue levels. Besides reviewing the generally accepted metabolic pathway, alternative synthetic mechanisms are described. The lack of data concerning catabolism and regulation of this compound is emphasized. Reasons for the rather limited uptake of dietary UQ are discussed and alternative mechanisms for its beneficial effects on organ function are suggested. Since appropriate tissue uptake of dietary UQ probably only occurs in deficient states, the definition of partial UQ deficiency and its consequences is urgently needed. The possibility of raising tissue UQ levels by drug treatment or natural metabolites is raised as a choice of preference for the future.
Article
The concentrations (microg/g wet yolk) of total carotenoids in eggs of the common moorhen (Gallinula chloropus), American coot (Fulica americana) and lesser black-backed gull (Larus fuscus), collected in the wild, were 47.5, 131.0 and 71.6, respectively. In contrast to data for eggs of the domestic chicken, beta-carotene was a significant component in the yolks of these three wild species, forming 25-29% by wt. of the total carotenoids present. The concentration of total carotenoids in the livers of the newly-hatched chicks was 5-10 times higher than in the other tissues and beta-carotene was again a major component, forming 37-58% of the hepatic carotenoids. In the newly-hatched gull, the proportions of both lutein and zeaxanthin were very low in the liver but high in the heart and muscle when compared with the yolk. By contrast canthaxanthin, echinenone and beta-carotene were very minor constituents of heart and muscle when compared with their proportions in the yolk of the gull. The proportions of lutein and zeaxanthin in the liver of the newly-hatched coot and moorhen were also far lower than in the yolk whereas the liver was relatively enriched with beta-cryptoxanthin, beta-carotene and (in the moorhen) echinenone. The results indicate that avian embryos discriminate between different carotenoids during their distribution from the yolk to the various tissues.
Article
1. The purpose of the study was to determine the stability of dietary ascorbic acid and the reproductive responses of broiler breeder chickens to supplemental 75 mg ascorbic acid/kg diet. 2. Six breeder flocks of 13,000 birds each were studied. Egg production, eggshell porosity, fertility, hatchability and plasma ascorbic acid were measured. 3. Storage of the diets under dry heat resulted in a linear decrease in ascorbic acid content and the rate of decline was 5-fold higher in the supplemented diet. 4. Differences were not detected between treatments in egg production, egg weight, eggshell porosity, fertility, hatchability or plasma ascorbic acid. 5. The results did not provide evidence of a beneficial reproductive response to the inclusion of ascorbic acid in commercial broiler breeder diets.
Article
A brief overview on thermogenic mechanisms in young precocial birds is given. While shivering thermogenesis is well documented in these birds, evidence for a facultative non-shivering component of heat production, comparable to that found in the brown adipose tissue of mammals, is ambiguous. One reason for this is the confusion between thermoregulatory and obligatory thermogenesis. In particular, the existence of a thermogenic reaction, even a futile one, does not by itself constitute proof of true thermoregulatory non-shivering thermogenesis. More probably, such a reaction is another obligatory component of heat production. Heat increment of feeding and motor activity are classical examples of such mechanisms. Thermogenesis arising from such mechanisms can often be adaptively used by the thermoregulatory systems in young birds, as well as in adults.
Tissue-specific distribution of carotenoids and vitamin E in tissues of newly hatched chicks from various avian species
  • F Karadas
  • Na Wood
  • Pf Surai
  • Nh Sparks
Karadas F, Wood NA, Surai PF, Sparks NH. Tissue-specific distribution of carotenoids and vitamin E in tissues of newly hatched chicks from various avian species.
Vitamin E in young turkeys: a reassessment of the requirement
  • M F Soto-Salanova
Soto-Salanova MF. Vitamin E in young turkeys: a reassessment of the requirement [Retrospective theses and dissertations]. Digital Repository @ Iowa State University; 1998.
Transport and transformation of yolk lipids during development of the avian embryo
  • B K Speake
  • Amb Murray
  • R C Noble
Speake BK, Murray AMB, Noble RC. Transport and transformation of yolk lipids during development of the avian embryo. Prog Lipid Res 1998;37:1e32.